What neighborhoods have the lowest crime rates, best walkability, and best businesses? (Chicago: apartment)

[WesleyPrescott]

I need to know! I have very little knowledge of the city. When I move, I just wanna be safe, near the action including businesses and work.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by WesleyPrescott

I need to know! I have very little knowledge of the city. When I move, I just wanna be safe, near the action including businesses and work.

It depends on how much you want to pay. I live in the Gold Coast and feel safe as hell almost all the time. I can pretty much go out at any time of day and walk around alone. There are some people in the area which can be meh (like the figures around Chicago and State) and people here and there.. but otherwise, it's very good (except around Division Street attracts weird people too because of all the crap bars just on that street).

Other areas could be like River North, Lincoln Park, parts of Lakeview, Ravenswood, North Center, Lincoln Square, much of Wicker Park, Bucktown, South Loop, Andersonville, Edgewater, etc. There are shady areas around Lakeview, but not too much.

Historically, there's a lot of bad parts of the south side and far west sides (nowadays..it was closer to the city before, like Wicker Park used to not be safe, and now it is pretty safe). Many neighborhoods north are like yuppie-ville almost.

As far as safety + business? I'd look in anything above. Again, it depends on how much you want to spend. River North, Gold Coast, and South Loop are probably the most expensive, followed by Lincoln Park, but it depends on how much you want to spend a month on housing.

[richrf]

In general most areas along the lake are considered pretty safe. You can choose Streeterville, River North, South Loop, Gold Coast (most expensive), Lincoln Park, and many of the areas already mentioned. You would have to provide more specifics (e.g. budget, type of nightlife) to get more specific suggestions.

[WesleyPrescott]

I'm a big restaurant go-er. I would imagine the top of my budget would be 1,000 a month for a studio. Looking for public transit and a fair amount of other things to do and see such as different attractions and parks for the outdoor life.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by WesleyPrescott

I'm a big restaurant go-er. I would imagine the top of my budget would be 1,000 a month for a studio. Looking for public transit and a fair amount of other things to do and see such as different attractions and parks for the outdoor life.

I would look at either Lincoln Park or Lakeview. Both have a lot of restaurants and public transit going through there (i.e. brown, purple and red line trains and many buses). You should be able to find something for under 1000/month for a studio, especially in Lakeview. My ex used to rent a studio in LP for around, or a little under, $800/month so yeah. They are both pretty big neighborhoods, so there's different areas for each within the neighborhoods. Like Lakeview East area is maybe a little more artsy (boystown - the gay part of town is right there too big time on Halsted) than say Wrigleyville where Wrigley Field is (more sports bars, sprots and frat-ish atmosphere).

The main streets in these neighborhoods include Clark, Broadway, Halsted, Addison, Belmont, Sheffield, Diversey, etc. Many different types of restaurants and entertainment in both of these neighborhoods. Lincoln Park actually has some of the best restaurants in the city/United States (i.e. Alinea, L2O, etc), although they're expensive. You can find food at all price points in these neighborhoods really.

The train ride to downtown (like Near North) is probably 15-20 minutes from either neighborhood (Lincoln Park is closer to downtown) so it's really nothing major to hop on a train and just go down. Tons of stuff in these neighborhoods though.

Other areas might be say Andersonville, North Center, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood. Some of these are less busy than LP and Lakeview though.


Here's a bunch of places within your budget in LP and Lakeview
http://www.rent.com/search/results/?...pdateprofile=1

[UpliftingRN]

I just recently moved to Chicago from NYC myself. I got a huge 1 bedroom luxury apartment on the lake, one stop into Uptown for $1150. I was totally psyched for such a great price and a huge lakefront apt with tons of amenities. I guess Uptown isn't considered one of the "most safe" neighborhoods, but coming from NYC (East Harlem) I figure I have enough street smarts to maintain. Also, Uptown has tons of restaurants and places to have drinks from what I've encountered during my time there. The people seem really diverse and welcoming. Hopefully that's not just my sally sunshine optimism talking…. any locals have any insight on Uptown?

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by UpliftingRN

I just recently moved to Chicago from NYC myself. I got a huge 1 bedroom luxury apartment on the lake, one stop into Uptown for $1150. I was totally psyched for such a great price and a huge lakefront apt with tons of amenities. I guess Uptown isn't considered one of the "most safe" neighborhoods, but coming from NYC (East Harlem) I figure I have enough street smarts to maintain. Also, Uptown has tons of restaurants and places to have drinks from what I've encountered during my time there. The people seem really diverse and welcoming. Hopefully that's not just my sally sunshine optimism talking…. any locals have any insight on Uptown?

Most of uptown is fine to very nice. I was just on argyle at baile, super tasty and no death or destruction.

Oh and welcome to Chicago!

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by UpliftingRN

I just recently moved to Chicago from NYC myself. I got a huge 1 bedroom luxury apartment on the lake, one stop into Uptown for $1150. I was totally psyched for such a great price and a huge lakefront apt with tons of amenities. I guess Uptown isn't considered one of the "most safe" neighborhoods, but coming from NYC (East Harlem) I figure I have enough street smarts to maintain. Also, Uptown has tons of restaurants and places to have drinks from what I've encountered during my time there. The people seem really diverse and welcoming. Hopefully that's not just my sally sunshine optimism talking…. any locals have any insight on Uptown?

Welcome to Chicago! Uptown to me is perfectly fine. There's a few areas which are a little shady, but otherwise it's not a part of the city in which I actually avoid. There's some restaurants there I want to try, some concert venues there I go to without a problem, and yeah. There's only a few areas which have made me go "meh." really..