Best Places To Live In Chicago For Singles

January 17, 2022

You’re single. You’re moving to Chicago. Whether it will be your debut appearance in this great American city or you’re relocating within it, you probably want to land in a spot that allows you to sample all the things you’re hoping to find at this specific moment in your personal history.

Let’s face it: the best places to live in Chicago for singles depends on the single. Foodies might gravitate toward different neighborhoods than those drawn to nightclubs and live music. There are neighborhoods for gallery types, outdoor recreation devotees and hard-core corporate climbers.

With that said, here are some of the best neighborhoods in Chicago for singles:

1. Lake View: Like the name says, you can score great views of Lake Michigan from this shore-hugging, bustling neighborhood. Plenty of available housing, lots of bars and scores of young, barely post-college professionals are some of the features of a neighborhood split into two distinct districts:
   • Boystown: The first officially recognized gay village in the United States and home base for the LGBTQ community in Chicago. The Chicago Pride parade is staged here each June, followed by North Halsted Street Market Days.
   • Wrigleyville: Home to venerable Wrigley Field and its occupants, the Chicago Cubs, as well as dozens of clubs and restaurants that enjoy a symbiotic relationship with the second-oldest ballpark in the majors. Then there’s the iconic Art Deco arthouse, the Music Box Theatre, and a certified indie music Valhalla in Metro.

2. Lincoln Park: The neighborhood shares its name with the park that is its eastern border — and the largest park in the city. Residents are afforded easy access to miles of lakefront recreational trails, not to mention North Avenue Beach. DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the U.S., brings 23,000-plus students to the neighborhood. The Lincoln Park Zoo brings a lot of animals, too.

3. The Loop: A 35-block area named for the elevated train tracks ringing it, the Loop is the heart of downtown Chicago. It is Chicago’s business and cultural center, home to the Stock Exchange, the Board of Trade, the Symphony Orchestra, the theater district and the Art Institute. There are also tourism standbys such as Millennium Park and its Cloud Gate sculpture (a.k.a., “the Bean”), Buckingham Fountain, the Riverwalk and Grant Park at your doorstep.

4. Old Town: Rootsy, bohemian and a little funky, this one-time ground zero for Chicago counterculture in the 1960s has retained a certain outsider flair. Old Town annually hosts two of the city’s largest outdoor art fairs (concurrently); prides itself on great dive bars (Burton Place, Old Town Pub, the Lodge); and is home to the Second City improv comedy troupe (giving the world such talents as John Belushi, Tina Fey and Steve Carrell). 

5. River North: Home to fashionistas and artists alike. You’ll find galleries, boutiques and all the other accoutrements of a high-end lifestyle in this perfectly located neighborhood. The shopping and restaurants of the Mag Mile hug its eastern edge. More food and drink, recreation, and some of the best people-watching in the city await at the Riverwalk along the southern border. If exercise is your thing, the East Bank Club covers you year-round. Holy Name Cathedral is the center of Catholic life in Chicago.

6. South Loop: Emerging as the Loop’s hipper neighbor, this area boasts lake views that are a bit more affordable. The denizens are as likely to make a quick swing through Chinatown to watch the White Sox as they are to head north for the Cubs. Little Italy and largely Hispanic Pilsen are also close. At South Loop’s eastern edge are the Museum Campus (home to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium) as well as the concert venue and nature preserve that is Northerly Island and Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears.

7. Streeterville: Within the tidy confines of Streeterville — a Near North Side enclave of stunning high-rises — you’ll find diverse landmarks such as the neo-gothic Tribune Tower, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Chicago’s No. 1 tourist attraction, Navy Pier. You can shop the Mag Mile and put your guests up in several great Chicago hotels, including the Drake. Northwestern University’s downtown campus, Northwestern Hospital, Lurie Children’s Hospital and the NBC Tower employ many of the area’s professionals.

9. West Loop: Known as the foodie hot spot in Chicago. Yes, Randolph Street’s restaurant row has dozens of Chicago’s most talked-about eateries, plus Greektown brims with traditional fare and establishments that have thrived for decades. Beyond that, Fulton Market — a gentrified former meat-packing district — is corporate home to McDonald’s, Google, Dyson and Herman Miller, among others. For nightlife, there are many options, including catching national and local acts at the divey Bottom Lounge and upscale City Winery. Plus, residents are a stone’s throw from the United Center, home to the Bulls and Blackhawks and a stop for many nationally touring acts. 

10. West Town: A little quieter than most of the other neighborhoods on this list, it’s also a little bigger — restaurants, markets, parks and entertainment options abound. West Town envelopes several smaller neighborhoods, including Wicker Park, which hasn’t left the list of trendy Chicago neighborhoods for 30 years.

Don’t Forget the ‘Burbs

If you want a little separation from the city while maintaining access to it, consider these among the best Chicago suburbs for singles:

• To the north, Evanston and Skokie have their own personalities, along with dedicated CTA train lines (the Purple and the Yellow, respectively)
• Out west, Naperville ­— Chicago’s largest suburb — has plenty of nightlife choices
• In the near-west ‘burbs, La Grange is walkable and affordable, and Forest Park covers all the dining bases while being a lovely, lower-priced alternative to its tonier neighbor, Oak Park
• Homewood and Flossmoor, sibling south suburbs, surround their Metra stations with bustling shopping, drinking and dining options
• If you’re looking to strike out further, Indiana’s Highland, Munster and Griffith have much to offer

Once You Decide, Make Your Move Easy

New City Movers started in 2009 with one truck and two employees. We’ve become the biggest mover in Illinois because we’re a family that brings a personal touch to getting you off to a good start in your new home. Our punctual, professional moving services are just the beginning. Whether you’re switching neighborhoods or states, we offer boxing and other moving supplies, packing and unpacking services, and short- and long-term storage.