Best Chicago Neighborhoods to Live Without a Car

My partner and I are finally ditching our Schaumburg apartment and moving to the city this November. Our lease is up and we're tired of the Metra and needing a car for literally everything. We're looking for a 1-bedroom, budget is around $2100. I'll be working in the Loop, so being near a reliable L stop is a must, preferably the Brown or Red Line. The biggest thing for us is walkability. We want to be able to walk to a real grocery store, a gym, and some decent bars and restaurants without it being a whole production. We've heard Lake View is good but are worried it's too loud or has a post-college vibe. What other spots should we be looking at?

You should definitely look at Lincoln Square. It's quieter than Lake View but still has a ton going on, especially around the Western brown line stop. That whole area is super walkable, you have the Davis Theater, a big new library, multiple breweries, and that pedestrianized stretch of Lincoln Ave. It feels more like a neighborhood village than the big city sometimes. It's a bit of a longer ride to the Loop than the Red Line but way more pleasant.

For that budget you could get a great spot in Logan Square. The Blue Line runs 24/7 and gets you to the Loop in about 25 minutes. The square itself has tons of restaurants and the Sunday farmers market is great. Only real downside is the Blue Line gets shoulder to shoulder during the 8 AM rush, especially between Damen and Clark/Lake. You will be very intimate with your fellow commuters.

You could get a lot more for your money in Uptown, especially east of Broadway near the lake. We're right on the Red Line and the express buses downtown like the 146 are great, sometimes even faster. We have a Jewel, a new Aldi, and the Target on Broadway, all walkable. Plus the lakefront path is right there. It has a grittier reputation than Lincoln Square for sure, but if you have street smarts it's a great value. And the Argyle area has the best Vietnamese food in the city, period.

Careful what you wish for. My cousin moved from Hoffman Estates to Lake View and complains constantly about the noise and trying to get groceries home on the bus in February. He says paying $225 a month for a parking spot is starting to look good again. Just saying, the grass isn't always greener.

Check out Buena Park. It's technically Uptown but feels like its own quiet pocket right between Lake View and the rest of Uptown. You can walk to the Sheridan Red Line stop, the lake, and the huge Jewel on Broadway. It's the best of both worlds, really.

Wow, thanks everyone, this is super helpful. That's a good point, SchaumburgSam, hauling groceries in the snow is something we haven't really factored in. I guess a rolling cart will be our first official city purchase. The Lincoln Square idea sounds really appealing. Quieter but still with stuff to do is a good balance for us. The Buena Park suggestion is interesting too, a good compromise. We're going to check out some places near the Western and Rockwell Brown Line stops this weekend and maybe a few spots near Sheridan. Appreciate all the input.