South Chicago
Chicago-style bungalows abound in South Chicago
The houses in this neighborhood sit closer together on small lots. The streets are narrow and have many brick Chicago bungalows. They closely resemble Cape Cod-style houses in other parts of the country and are one-and-a-half stories with a full basement. Many have been remodeled, along with mid-20th-century Georgian Revival and ranch-style homes. The price for single-family homes generally ranges between $100,000 and $400,000. Properties requiring significant rehab work start have recently sold for as low as $35,000. While there are many apartments in the area, very few sell as condos, with recent sales ranging between $70,000 and $100,000. Two-flat buildings and other multi-family properties are fairly common and range from $50,000 to $450,000. The neighborhood contains more renters than homeowners by a ratio of 3-to-2. The area scores a 5 on the CAP crime score scale, slightly above the national average. Some violent crimes have a higher number.
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Three K-8 options in South Chicago
Three elementary schools in the South Chicago neighborhood cater to kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Arnold Mireles Elementary Academy and Ninos Heroes Elementary School get C grades from Niche, while James N. Thorp Elementary School gets a C-minus. Most advance to Bowen High School, which gets a C-minus. Epic Academy High School is also part of the Chicago Public School District and specializes in the arts. The school receives a C grade. Our Lady of Guadalupe School is a private Catholic elementary school serving kids through eighth grade.
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Parks by Lake Michigan
Steelworkers Park is near the site of the former U.S. Steel mill, which closed in 1992. The 16-acre site lets visitors enjoy nature in the city. Once part of the factory, an ore wall is now a community rock climbing wall. There are also many trees, walking paths and picturesque views of Lake Michigan. Rainbow Beach Park has a beach, community garden, basketball, tennis and handball courts and multiple baseball diamonds. “During warm weather, various leagues play there, and it’s always crowded,” Flanagan says. Norman’s Bistro on the Lake is open year-round, even if nobody is on the beach. The park also has the Rainbow Dunes Natural Area. Bird watchers have spotted over 250 species. Further inland, Eckersall Park has a playground, soccer fields and a full basketball court. Eckersall Stadium on the park’s south side is where various Chicago Public High School football teams play. Russell Square Park has indoor and outdoor recreation options. The indoor fitness center and gym offer cold-weather options for staying in shape, while outside, there are three baseball fields, a swimming pool and sand volleyball courts.
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Pizza and Mexican restaurants in South Chicago
DeArco's on 87th Street serves both stuffed pizza and thin-crust tavern-style pizza. Sandwiches, wings and chicken are also served in a small, casual atmosphere that feels like home in a converted two-story brick house. Commercial Avenue offers more options, like Birrieria Ocotlan or Maxi Bakery, which serves breakfast, lunch and various sweet treats. Grocery stores in the neighborhood include specialized markets like La Fruteria, which sells African, Caribbean, and Hispanic foods, and La Primavera, a Mexican grocer.
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Urban farm addresses food desert in South Chicago
The South Chicago neighborhood is where one of eight urban farms on Chicago’s South Side is located. The South Chicago Farm is part of the Urban Growers Collective, which grows food during the growing season to provide for those who don’t have enough healthy choices or if a grocery store is too far to travel. In addition, the garden educates those who want to grow their food. The Fresh Moves Mobile Market is a farmers’ market on wheels inside a discontinued CTA bus. It’s available year-round and delivers food to community centers, churches and other places where the community gathers.
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CTA buses and commuter trains
Public transportation is abundant in South Chicago. Numerous CTA buses stop on 79th, 87th, and 91st Streets and main north/south roads like Commercial Avenue and South Shore Drive. Metra stations are located at the South Chicago stops on 93rd, 87th and 83rd Streets. The CTA ‘L’ train is about 5 miles west at 95th Street and Interstate 94. That line runs in the median of the Dan Ryan Expressway. Midway International Airport is 13 miles away, while O’Hare is a nearly 50-mile trip.
Written By
Jeff Stapleton
Photography Contributed By
Brett Bulthuis
Video By
Pasha Chichagov
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Arianne Kendrick
Arianne Kendrick
Coldwell Banker Realty
(708) 316-0896
26 Total Sales
1 in South Chicago
$232,000 Price
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Mirna Nieto
Mirna Nieto
Solaris Enterprises Inc
(833) 432-9314
7 Total Sales
1 in South Chicago
$205,000 Price
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Leopoldo Saucedo
Leopoldo Saucedo
Urbanitas Inc.
(833) 647-1831
194 Total Sales
1 in South Chicago
$260,000 Price
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LaToya Moore
LaToya Moore
Dream Town Real Estate
(773) 232-4332
78 Total Sales
1 in South Chicago
$205,000 Price
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Celeste Parker
Celeste Parker
Alex Drew Realty and Property Management
(708) 412-6807
36 Total Sales
1 in South Chicago
$290,000 Price
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Camille Harris
Camille Harris
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(331) 241-6532
59 Total Sales
1 in South Chicago
$225,000 Price
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
South Chicago Peoples Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Eckersall (Walter Herbert) Park
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Playground
Bessemer (Henry) Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Picnic Area
- Pool
Steelworkers Park
- Trails
Ashe Beach Park
- Picnic Area
- Tennis
- Playground
Washington (Dinah) Park
- Playground
Russell Square Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Pool
Rainbow Beach Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Trails
- Beach
Schafer (Clara D.) Park
- Trails
- Events
Transit
Airport
Chicago Midway International
24 min drive
Train
South Chicago (93Rd Street) Station
Train
87Th Street Station
Train
83Rd Street Station
Bus
91st Street & Brandon
Bus
87th Street & Baltimore
Bus
Jeffery & 81st Street
Bus
91st Street & Houston
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | South Chicago | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 8 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
South Chicago Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Chicago, Chicago sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in South Chicago, Chicago over the last 12 months is $187,000, up 25% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$209,949
Median Sale Price
$187,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$210,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$115,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$74,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
117
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
25%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$126
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,922
Number of Homes for Sale
54
Median Year Built
1923
Months of Supply
5.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,643
Below the national average
1,931
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,200
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,390
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,267
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jul 1210am - 1pm
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Saturday, Jul 1211am - 12pm
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Saturday, Jul 121 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Call for Price
- South Chicago Senior Housing - 62 & Over
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 720 Sq Ft
- 3039 E 91st St
- Chicago, IL
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
25,219
Median Age
39
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$37,739
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$51,625
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
79.6%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
19.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.2%
% Population in Labor Force
57.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
42''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
64
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
71
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
62
/ 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
Calumet Heights
Community compromising coastal urban with Chicago suburban
Jeffrey Manor
A convenient South Side neighborhood with fertile ground for new beginnings
Slag Valley
Industrial community along the Calumet River, 14 miles South of Chicago
South Shore
A thriving community on the shore of Lake Michigan
East Side
Suburban living with Lake Michigan only blocks away
Trumbull Park
Community-oriented suburb, 16 miles from downtown Chicago
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