Chicago metro, IL relocation guide
Moving to Chicago, IL
About Chicago
Chicago (~2.7 million) is the nation's third-largest city and the hub everything in this guide orbits: the Loop's skyscrapers, 77 official neighborhoods from Pilsen to Andersonville, Lake Michigan's 18-mile lakefront, and a deep bench of culture, food, and architecture. Housing spans downtown luxury towers, vintage courtyard apartments, bungalows, two-flats, and single-family pockets on the far Northwest and Southwest sides.
Home prices in Chicago
The median listing price in Chicago is $385,000.
Top places in Chicago
- Millennium Park
- The Magnificent Mile and Chicago Riverwalk.
- Art Institute of Chicago.
- Navy Pier and the lakefront trail.
- Willis Tower Skydeck and 360 Chicago.
- Wrigley Field and the Wrigleyville neighborhood.
- Museum of Science and Industry and the Museum Campus (Field, Shedd, Adler).
- Neighborhood dining corridors: Pilsen, Logan Square, Andersonville, Hyde Park, Chinatown.
Commuting from Chicago
- You're already here. Every Metra line terminates downtown (Union Station, Ogilvie, Millennium, LaSalle Street); the CTA 'L' (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow) and 100+ bus routes cover the city.
- Approximate drive Loop to O'Hare: ~30–50 minutes (approximate; traffic-dependent); Loop to Midway: ~20–35 minutes (approximate).
Schools in Chicago
Public schools: Chicago Public Schools. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Chicago FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Chicago, IL?
The median listing price in Chicago is $385,000. Median listing price · Realtor.com · September 24, 2026 - How is the commute from Chicago, IL?
You're already here. Every Metra line terminates downtown (Union Station, Ogilvie, Millennium, LaSalle Street); the CTA 'L' (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow) and 100+ bus routes cover the city. - Which school district serves Chicago, IL?
Chicago is served by Chicago Public Schools. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.