I have to find a place to live without being able to tour the city for myself. Also, I don't know anyone that lives or has lived there. I just need to get a good idea of places that are relatively safe within the city limits!
2006-07-26 15:06:06 · 5 answers · asked by Ryan J 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Chicago
Well, to be honest, crime happens in every Chicago neighborhood, even the Gold Coast (remember the guy who killed the designer Versace? He stopped in the gold Coast first and killed a guy). There are rapes, murders, robberies in the so-called "good" neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Printers Row, Roscoe Village. Granted some neighborhoods have a lot more crime that others. If you're new to the city and not yet learned the ropes, I'd steer clear of Austin, Englewood, Oakdale/Kenwood. the far south and west sides. But there are also good reasons to avoid parts of Bridgeport, the Back of the Yards, Lawndale, Humboldt Park, West Rogers Park,... wow, I'm not making Chicago sound too good.
Actually, if you just keep your wits and learn how to deal with the city, you'll be fine in any neighborhood. People this Wicker Park is the coolest neighborhood around, but it was a hell-hole a few years back. There were hardly any bars there at all and everything on Milwaukee closed at ten and the streets were deserted. The park was dangerous, the housing was cheap. But a few adventurous art students took a chance, learned to deal with it and started moving in because the rent was cheap, then others followed them and now the neighborhood is "safe" and "cool".
How much you're willing to pay for rent will detemine where you'll live. There are some great neighborhoods around. Are they completely safe? No, but they're not dodge city either. People always put down Rogers Park (on the far north side) as unsafe, but it's one of the coolest neighborhoods around with a big artist community and a lot of condos cropping up. Guys who build condos don't waste money on building $300,000 apartments in unsafe neighborhoods if they don't think it's worth it.
Here's a list of chicago neighborhoods with some info. Read through it and get an idea of the city.
2006-07-27 06:50:20 · answer #1 · answered by bodinibold 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i have lived in bucktown, wrigleyville, and wicker park. these are actually all within 5 miles of each other. i would stay anywhere no farter south than printers row. and probably no farter north than addison st. a little bit more north is safe, but you are kind of away from everything. if you were to look at a map, it will name all of the different neighborhoods. i also wouldn't go any farther west than western ave. but, definitely hit up the apartment website the other person named. i used something like that and also found my place in about 6 hours. once you have it narrowed down to certain neighborhoods, you can visit everyplace in an afternoon and sign the lease right there.
2006-07-27 02:38:12 · answer #2 · answered by bargirl_2323 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know if you're going school or work, and where the place would be....
But i would say 60614 and 60657 area is safe.it's called "Lincoln Park" or "Lakeview" threre are many places to hang out, buses and trains are walking distance. it is very convenient.
I also recommend Apartment People
http://www.apartmentpeople.com/
They are helpful. it's free. they will find places meet your requirement (price range and all that) and bring you to those places. I went there and found a place within a day.
2006-07-26 22:15:08 · answer #3 · answered by makerunanrk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ironic how some of the best universities are around in bad neighborhoods (UIC, U of C, IIT, etc)
2006-07-26 22:08:45 · answer #4 · answered by happy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't live anywhere south of downtown. Stay on the north side, near Evanston if you can.
2006-07-27 01:21:36 · answer #5 · answered by Terri D 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋