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Chinatown

Chinatown

Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois

Cook County 60616

Neighborhood Reviews
4.4
$430,803 Average Value
$273 Average Price per Sq Ft
8 Homes For Sale

Asian influence in a convenient urban setting

Chinatown may be right in the backyard of downtown Chicago, but it offers a world of its own – and that’s the key to understanding the value of this place, a value that keeps its residents around. “A lot of the people who grew up in Chinatown leave for college or a job but end back up here. People here stick around,” Amy Duong Kim, a Senior Broker and Founding Member at Compass says. Residents don’t just enjoy the shopping and dining of this culturally focused neighborhood but the community events that come along with it. Hugged by the South Branch Chicago River to the west and two expressways to the south, it’s easy to feel like this neighborhood is plugged into the wider city. There’s even a Cermak-Chinatown train stop that helps residents go to and from. But one of the most popular ways to get around is by one’s own legs – Chicago’s Chinatown is known for being highly walkable.

Chinatown is known for its Chinese styled architecture which gives it a unique character.
Chinatown is known for its Chinese styled architecture which gives it a unique character.
BBQ King House has great food options in Chinatown.
BBQ King House has great food options in Chinatown.
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Asian cuisine on every corner

If food is a big driver for homebuyers when looking at neighborhoods, there’s no going wrong with Chinatown – where there appears to be options on every corner. Residents can start their morning off at Phoenix Restaurant, where they can enjoy dim sum, a brunch meal often centered around steamed dumplings. Later, they can grab drinks at Nine Bar, which has the honor of being Chinatown’s first cocktail bar. With cocktail names like “Paper Dragon” – featuring Sichuan peppercorn – and menu items like fries loaded with chili pork, it’s obvious that the venue is catering to an innovative younger crowd. These kinds of developments are nice to see because they show a bridge between Chinatown’s immigrant roots and a new wave of small business owners who want to make a stir. Speaking of bridges, residents should most certainly make their way over the river via Cermak Road so they can experience 88 Marketplace, a massive 80,000-square-foot food extravaganza. This is one of the more unique grocery stores in all of Chicago, giving customers access to frozen and fresh Asian foods. When visitors want to take a break from browsing the numerous aisles, they can chow down on some sushi and Chinese BBQ in the food court. For a more traditional grocery shopping experience, residents head 1 mile north of the neighborhood to Jewel-Osco. Visitors also enjoy checking out Chinatown Square, a two-story outdoor shopping mall with various shops.

Chinatown Square has great food options like BBQ King House.
Chinatown Square has great food options like BBQ King House.
MCCB has a number of Michelin stars and is well known in Chinatown.
MCCB has a number of Michelin stars and is well known in Chinatown.
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Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce events

The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce organizes events throughout the year to unite the community. Most notable is their Lunar New Year Celebration, which features traditional dragon and lion dancing teams, colorful floats, marching bands and marching groups. Another popular event is the Chinese Dragon Boat Race, which has been a tradition among Asian communities for over 2,000 years. Started in 2000 in Chicago, the Dragon Boat Race for Literacy is a family-fun event that includes 32 dragon boat race teams competing in the Chicago River.

Lunar New Year Parade features great photo opportunities in Chinatown.
Lunar New Year Parade features great photo opportunities in Chinatown.
Lunar New Year Parade is a great time for residents of Chinatown and Chicago in general.
Lunar New Year Parade is a great time for residents of Chinatown and Chicago in general.
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From condominiums to class Chicago three-flats

In the neighborhood's north side, homebuyers will find a lot of multi-unit dwellings, like brick condos, which isn’t unusual for the Chicago area. But what makes a difference here is affordability. Condominiums in Chinatown have sold for between $250,00 and $410,000. Single-family cottages, townhouses and two and three-flats are more common in the neighborhood's south side and typically sell for between $320,000 and $650,000. “Homes don’t come to market very often but when they do, they go very fast,” Duong Kim says.

There are a number of brick condo buildings in Chinatown.
There are a number of brick condo buildings in Chinatown.
There are a number of three flat homes in Chinatown.
There are a number of three flat homes in Chinatown.
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The dynamic Ping Tom Memorial Park

Residents of Chinatown can make their way over the river at 18th Street, but might not want to cross, given that the beautiful Ping Tom Memorial Park sits on the riverbank. The park was once a rail yard, but now it offers opportunities for kayaking. There’s even an updated fieldhouse with a gym and a pool. Residents can also use the Chicago Water Taxi from Ping Tom Park, which takes residents along the river with various stops in Chicago. Just southeast of Chinatown is Park No. 540, a popular 5-acre park where locals can play softball or baseball, run on the track, or take their kids to their newly renovated playground. Speaking of playgrounds, children enjoy the new playground at Sun Yat-Sen Park, at the southern border of Chinatown.

Chinatown is known for its riverside Ping Tom Park.
Chinatown is known for its riverside Ping Tom Park.
Ping Tom Park has access to the river ferry in Chinatown.
Ping Tom Park has access to the river ferry in Chinatown.
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Proximity to public transportation

Residents in Chinatown benefit from the proximity to a variety of transportation options. The Cermak-Chinatown Station sits on the Red Line of the Chicago Transit Authority’s train system, also known as the “L”, and allows easy access to other pockets of Chicago. Right next to the station is the Nine Dragon Wall, a decorative artwork wall that welcomes commuters to the neighborhood. Proximity to both Interstate 55 and Interstate 90 gives residents easy access to downtown, which is a 2-mile drive north from the neighborhood. For residents looking to get out of Chicago, Midway International Airport is a 9-mile drive from the neighborhood. For medical attention, Insight Hospital & Medical Center Chicago is a 1-mile drive from Chinatown.

Chinatown has a CTA station right in the heart of the neighborhood.
Chinatown has a CTA station right in the heart of the neighborhood.
Chinatown has a number of bus lines that run through it.
Chinatown has a number of bus lines that run through it.
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Students attend Chicago Public Schools

Children in Chinatown attend Chicago Public Schools. The two schools that are zoned for the area are Haines Elementary School, which serves Pre-K through eighth grade and Phillips Academy High School, which serves ninth through 12th grade. Haines Elementary School earned a B grade from Niche while Phillips Academy High School earned a C-minus. Phillips Academy is known as the oldest African American high school in the city of Chicago. As for private school options, De La Salle Institute is about 2 miles south of the neighborhood and earned an A grade from Niche.

Healy Elementary School is located located near Chinatown.
Healy Elementary School is located located near Chinatown.
Phillips Academy High School is located in the Bronzeville and serves the Chinatown area.
Phillips Academy High School is located in the Bronzeville and serves the Chinatown area.
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Explore the art at Zhou B Art Center

Nearby in the Bridgeport neighborhood, residents enjoy going to the Zhou B Art Center. The venue, which was featured in the New York Times as one of the “Five Places to Go in Chicago”, hosts a free exhibition and open studio event on the third Friday of each month where locals can explore the main galleries as well as artist studios.

Kevin Haswell
Written By
Kevin Haswell
Evan Brightfield
Photography Contributed By
Evan Brightfield
Max Gilmore
Video By
Max Gilmore

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Cinny Chui, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Chicago Midway International

14 min drive

Subway

Cermak-Chinatown Station

Bus

Archer & Cermak & Princeton

Bus

Archer & Wallace

Bus

Wentworth & 23rd Street

Bus

Archer & Red Line Station

Bus

Cermak & Canal

Bus

Canal & 23rd Place

Bus

Wentworth & Cermak

Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.4 5 Reviews
4.0 Current Resident
1/15/2019 Niche Review
Chinatown has a great cultural immersion. The Chinese population is largely located in this area, where interacting with Chinese language and culture is simply amazing. The cultural taxation is my only issue along with gentrification of business capitalism.
Are you familiar with the Chinatown neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Chinatown US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 3 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 5 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$295,000
Median Single Family Price
$680,000
Median Townhouse Price
$427,500
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$300,750
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$254,750
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$273
Number of Homes for Sale
8
Last 12 months Home Sales
28
Months of Supply
3.40
Median List Price
$309,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
4%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
1%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
688
Median Year Built
2000
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,033
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,622
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
898
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
457

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Condo Buildings

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Cinny Chui, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
5,872
Median Age
46
Population Density
27 ppl/acre
Population under 18
17.8%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$42,777
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$70,180

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
57.7%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
30.6%
Advanced Degrees
12.4%
% Population in Labor Force
55.9%
Below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
34''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
40''

Area Factors

Very Bikeable

Bike Score®

84 / 100

Walker's Paradise

Walk Score®

96 / 100

Excellent Transit

Transit Score®

77 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Chinatown