Lakeview/Wrigleyville

One of the most sought-after areas of the city, the Chicago neighborhood of Lakeview is the most populated area in the Midwest largely due to its great dinning, shopping and nightlife. It is a very young neighborhood, with much of its population under 30, as housing is slightly cheaper than neighborhoods nearer to the Loop. But its four mile proximity to the Loop makes it a prime real estate destination.

It is also home to the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field, and a part of the neighborhood is named for it. The many bars and restaurants are always full, especially during baseball season when they feed and entertain thousands of fans. The Wrigleyville section of Lakeview is bounded by Halsted, Ashland, Roscoe and Byron. There are more than 600 retail stores on the east side alone and Diversey, Clark, Halsted and Broadway boast strong commercial development. Chicago's gay district is located in Lakeview East in an area known as "Boy's Town". The population is diverse and alternative lifestyles are celebrated and embraced.

The pleasant surprise of Lakeview & Wrigleyville is that once you venture 20 steps from the main shopping, restaurant and bar/club areas, you'll find yourself in beautifully maintained tree-lined streets, with rows of lovely houses in all manner of architectural styles, ranging in age from near-century-old to 3 days ago. This is likely the other primary reason for this area's popularity; one can buy or rent a gorgeous house on a gorgeous street, then walk for 5 minutes and be in one of the city's mecca shopping/nightlife districts.