Chicago: the Best and the Worst
Chicago, the city of broad shoulders, has experienced a renaissance. Over the last 20 years, the city has transformed itself from a decaying, rust-belt city into a cosmopolitan, world-respected metropolis. As a result, areas of the city, which would have been viewed as sub-standard, have been transformed into trendy, avant-garde neighborhoods.
Understanding the best and worst places to live, in Chicago, requires a standard set of measurement criteria. For the purposes of this article, the following attributes were measured:
1.) Crime Rate
2.) Walk Ability
3.) Property Prices
4.) Access to Culture and Entertainment
5.) Access to Green Space
In a city as large as Chicago, many distinct neighborhoods have emerged, each with their own identities and cultures. As everyone’s tastes are unique to them, what we deem as being the worst places to live, by us, may be a great place to live, for others. Certainly, those individuals living in an area tagged as “the worst” would feel otherwise. With that said, let us start with the best place, in which to live.
East Old Town and Gold Coast
In summary, this area is the pinnacle of Chicago living. The crime rate here is one of the lowest, within the city. Everything needed to enjoy a full and happy existence is within walking distance. This includes multiple grocery stores, each with their own distinct selection of products. There are dozens of dry cleaners, hair salons and convenience stores. The area is blanketed with transportation options. 2 “L” trains crisscross the area. More than a half-dozen bus lines and dozens of bus stops dot the neighborhood. Taxi service runs 24 hours per day. Finally, there are hundreds of stores and boutiques located, either within the neighborhood, or within easy walking distance.
Residents of this area have the Museum of Chicago History and South Lincoln Park nested within their neighborhood. There are no less than two beaches, Oak Street and North Avenue Beaches, which are a couple of blocks away from the neighborhood. Views of Lake Michigan are unparalleled. Finally, the area hosts numerous smaller parks, some completely unknown to non-area residents.
Such luxury does come at a price. Property and rental prices are some of the highest in the city. The only area that has higher rental prices is Streeterville.
Now, let’s take a look at the worst place to live, in Chicago.
Northwest Washington Park Neighborhood
This neighborhood is bounded by the I-94 Expressway, to the west and State Street, to the east. The northern border is 51st Street, with the southern boundary being served by Garfield Boulevard. This area regularly competes for the highest violent crime rate, in the city. According to WalletPop.com, this neighborhood is the 2nd most dangerous neighborhood in the United States. A person has a one in four chance of becoming a victim, each year.
Although the area is served by bus and has easy access to other parts of the city, via I-94, the neighborhood is under served. From a walk ability perspective, it can be challenging to live, without a car or close access to the bus.
There are no parks in this area. The closest parks are Washington Park and Sherwood Park, each of them being located in the adjacent neighborhood.
There is very little in the way of culture and entertainment. Other than Ace Tech School and Beasley Academic center, there are few cultural outlets.
As would be expected, housing prices are dramatically below the average price for Chicago. Of course, this is due to all of the factors listed above.
In summary, Chicago has come a long way towards moving into the 21st century. The city is made up of over 100 hundred distinct neighborhoods and communities, each with their own distinct traits. Many areas of the city are quite appealing, for potential future residents. However, some areas are to be avoided.