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Heart of Chicago

Heart of Chicago

Urban Core Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois

Cook County 60608

$397,689 Average Value
$283 Average Price per Sq Ft
8 Homes For Sale

A section of Chicago’s Pilson neighborhood

With most of the housing in the Heart of Chicago dating to the 1890s, this neighborhood has progressed to one of the most trendy areas in the city. “Over the past ten years, this area has been revitalized with nightlife and restaurants, especially along 18th Street,” says Miguel Chacon, a broker with Compass with almost 20 years of experience. “It’s transformed into a young and diverse neighborhood that’s walkable and has access to trains.” The Heart of Chicago is a section of the larger Pilson neighborhood mainly concentrated between Western and Ashland Avenues.

Close to downtown, the Heart of Chicago is a warm and creative community.
Close to downtown, the Heart of Chicago is a warm and creative community.
Heart of Chicago is full of many beautiful murals to explore throughout the neighborhood.
Heart of Chicago is full of many beautiful murals to explore throughout the neighborhood.
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Restaurant revitalization

“Restaurants keep popping up along 18th Street - it’s a very hip area,” says Grigory Pekarsky, managing broker and owner at Vesta Preferred Realty with over 15 years of experience. Carnitas Uruapan has been a mainstay and, as the name suggests, specializes in authentic Mexican carnitas. Tacos are available on weekends, as well as Menudo, a spicy stew served with onion, red pepper and oregano. In the shadow of the elevated train stop on Damen Avenue is L Cafecito Jumping Bean, which serves coffee, pastries, and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. They do a lot of takeout business since seating is limited inside. For those who still listen to tunes on vinyl, Pinwheel Records on 18th has a large selection of vinyl LPs and 45s. Luciano’s Grocery Store is a locally owned supermarket. ALDI is also available for a grocery run.

Heart of Chicago residents are known to stop by Cafecito Jumping Bean.
Heart of Chicago residents are known to stop by Cafecito Jumping Bean.
Heart of Chicago residents love to get carnitas at Carnitas Uruapan.
Heart of Chicago residents love to get carnitas at Carnitas Uruapan.
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Art showing current culture

Whether the art is on the side of a building or in a building dedicated to it, there is creativity on display depicting the current Mexican culture of the area. It’s common to see art shown in the form of murals. The National Museum of Mexican Art has been in the neighborhood since 1987 and expanded in 2001 to a 48,000-square-foot facility featuring thousands of pieces of art showing old and present Mexican culture.

Heart of Chicago features the National Museum of Mexican Art.
Heart of Chicago features the National Museum of Mexican Art.
Heart of Chicago residents love to see exhibits at The National Museum of Mexican Art.
Heart of Chicago residents love to see exhibits at The National Museum of Mexican Art.
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Use of older houses

Some of the older houses in the neighborhood have been repurposed into condos or other multi-family units. “Only about ten percent of the housing stock are single-family homes, and many of them are what we call workers' cottages,” Chacon says. The prices range from $200,000 to $450,000, depending on the house’s condition. These are mainly smaller homes around 1,000 square feet and can have up to three or four bedrooms. Some older condos have been remodeled, priced between $200,000 and $300,000. New construction penthouses with nearly 1,500 square feet are priced around $500,000.

Heart of Chicagod features many older homes made of brick.
Heart of Chicagod features many older homes made of brick.
Heart of Chicago has many older three and four story homes.
Heart of Chicago has many older three and four story homes.
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Indoor and outdoor recreation

Surrounding the National Museum of Mexican Art is Harrison Park, which has a fieldhouse with an indoor swimming pool, a gymnastics center and after-school programs for kids. Outside, there are tennis courts, an artificial turf field used for football and soccer and a playground. Barrett Park is considerably smaller at less than an acre, but there’s a lot in the space, including a full basketball court, playground and green space.

Heart of Chicago residents are known to take advantage of Harrison Parks courts.
Heart of Chicago residents are known to take advantage of Harrison Parks courts.
Heart of Chicago has a great field house at Harrison Park.
Heart of Chicago has a great field house at Harrison Park.
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Bilingual school

Public school kids can attend schools in the City of Chicago School District Number 299. Orozco Academy is a bilingual school with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It has a B grade on Niche and a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The school has three science labs, a fitness center and a library media center. Jones College Prep High School is rated an A-plus on Niche and is a selective enrollment high school with mainly honors level courses. They partner with Loyola University in a dual credit program. A private school option is Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, which is graded an overall B-minus on Niche.

The Orozco Community Academy is located in Heart of Chicago.
The Orozco Community Academy is located in Heart of Chicago.
Jones College Prep is a great high school option for residents of Heart of Chicago.
Jones College Prep is a great high school option for residents of Heart of Chicago.
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Metra and the “L”

With the high walkability of the neighborhood, there’s a good chance that an elevated train stop is close. The Pink Line “L” train has multiple stops in the neighborhood. In addition, the Metra commuter rail can be caught at the Western Avenue station. Chicago’s CTA bus has stops along Western Avenue, 18th Street and Cermak Road.

Heart of Chicago residents can commute on the CTA Pink line.
Heart of Chicago residents can commute on the CTA Pink line.
Heart of Chicago features the very popular 18th Street district.
Heart of Chicago features the very popular 18th Street district.
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Jeff Stapleton
Written By
Jeff Stapleton
Evan Brightfield
Photography Contributed By
Evan Brightfield
Patrick Johnson
Video By
Patrick Johnson

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 Andrew Dorazio, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Chicago Midway International

12 min drive

Train

Western Avenue Station (Bnsf)

Subway

18Th Street Station

Subway

Western Station (Pink Line)

Subway

Damen Station (Pink Line)

Bus

18th Street & Leavitt

Bus

Damen & 18th Street

Bus

18th Street & Western

Bus

Cermak & Wolcott

Bus

Western & 26th Street

Bus

Cermak & Ashland & Blue Island

Bus

18th Street & Oakley

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Heart of Chicago US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$370,000
Median Single Family Price
$370,000
Median Townhouse Price
$606,999
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$313,125
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$161,500
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$283
Number of Homes for Sale
8
Last 12 months Home Sales
23
Months of Supply
4.20
Median List Price
$449,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-6%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
759
Median Year Built
1891
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,281
Above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,030
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,200
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
500
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178

Open Houses

  • Saturday, Apr 26
    11am - 1pm

    2420 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

    $745,000

    • 8 Beds
    • 4 Baths
    • 2420 S Oakley Ave
    • New 9 days ago

    Rarely available, this classic brick 3-unit in the highly desirable Heart of Chicago section of Pilsen offers strong upside for both investors and owner-occupants. The building includes two 2 bed / 1 bath units on the first floor (front and rear), and a spacious 5 bed / 2 bath top-floor apartment that's perfect for an owner's unit or high-rent tenant. The top unit features interior stairs to a

    Jaime Ashley Campos RE/MAX LOYALTY

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  • Saturday, Apr 26
    10am - 12pm

    2237 W Coulter St Unit 3, Chicago, IL 60608

    $599,999

    • 3 Beds
    • 2.5 Baths
    • 2237 W Coulter St
    • Unit 3
    • New 10 days ago

    Discover an exceptionally-upgraded and hard-to-find Pilsen townhome! This residence boasts top-tier finishes, including stainless steel appliances, industrial-grade exhaust hood, extra culinary power with an under-counter convection/microwave combo, quartz countertops, sleek cabinetry, and a custom backsplash. Bathrooms are beautifully designed with custom tile work. Hardwood floors enhance the

    Kevin Smith Century 21 S.G.R., Inc.

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  • Sunday, Apr 27
    12 - 2pm

    2124 W 24th St, Chicago, IL 60608

    $524,999

    • 5 Beds
    • 3 Baths
    • 2124 W 24th St
    • New 25 days ago

    PERFECT 2 UNIT Opportunity in the heart of Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. This property features 2 bedrooms in each unit with a full bath, walking in you have a large living room with hardwood floors, ceramic tile in the kitchen and bath, the 2 bedroom also comes with hardwood floors. The second floor unit has the same layout as the first but comes with a floor space heater while the first floor

    George Sierra RE/MAX LOYALTY

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

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

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
14,684
Median Age
35
Population Density
31 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.3%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$58,662
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$78,902

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
74.3%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
35.1%
Advanced Degrees
12.8%
% Population in Labor Force
72.2%
Above 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®

75 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

89 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

68 / 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.

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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
Heart of Chicago
Andrew Dorazio
Fitzgerald Real Estate Inc.
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