Avondale
Bricktown, River, Bungalows
MEDIAN: $431,500
Get to know Avondale
Avondale is the Northwest Side neighborhood everyone is suddenly talking about: in 2025, Time Out ranked it the fifth coolest neighborhood in the world and the coolest in the U.S. It sits just north of Logan Square, with Irving Park above it and the North Branch of the Chicago River along its eastern edge.
People move here for real-neighborhood character at a gentler price than the neighborhoods next door. Brick two-flats and bungalows line the side streets, and longtime bakeries and taverns share the main drags with new wine bars, cafes and music venues.
Its nickname is Bricktown, after the brickyards that once fired much of the city's building material. For generations it was the heart of Chicago's Polish Village along Milwaukee Avenue, and the towers of St. Hyacinth Basilica still rise over the rooftops.
Why People Love Avondale
Residents and critics land on the same idea: Avondale is a working neighborhood with a creative streak, and it hasn't lost its soul.
It feels like a neighborhood, not a scene. Residents describe friendly, quiet blocks of single-family homes and flats, with nightlife a short walk away when they want it.
Small businesses run the show. Time Out credits Avondale's support for its independent shops, and its blend of longtime fixtures with newcomers, for the neighborhood's rise.
The river is a destination. Rockwell on the River turned a century-old tannery into a riverside complex with a coffee roastery, distillery, taproom, restaurants and a marina.
There's always something new to try. Pierogi at an Old World Polish restaurant, heavy-metal burgers, horror-themed coffee, a retro bowling alley and a climbing gym all share the same few square miles.
Getting around is practical. The Blue Line's Belmont stop connects to downtown and O'Hare, buses run on Belmont, Milwaukee and Pulaski, and the Kennedy Expressway cuts right through for drivers.
Neighbors make things happen. The Avondale Neighborhood Association organizes cleanups, murals and arts programming through its Avondale Arts initiative.
Want to live in Avondale?
John will match you with a Chicago agent who knows these blocks, at no cost to you.
What to do in Avondale
In Avondale, a good Saturday mixes something old, something new and a little time on the river.
Start with coffee at Magnifico Coffee Roasters or under the giant sandworm at The Brewed, a horror-themed cafe, then pick up a pastry from Loaf Lounge. Dig through records and vintage VHS tapes at Bric-a-Brac, or burn off breakfast at the First Ascent climbing gym.
Afternoons head east to Rockwell on the River. Sip whiskey at Judson & Moore, share a Neapolitan pizza at Little Lark and watch the boats, or rent a kayak or an electric boat from the marina and see the city from the water. The complex also hosts pop-up events like the Vintage House Chicago market.
Evenings have range. Bowl a few frames with manual scoring at the retro Avondale Bowl, order pierogi at Staropolska, or line up for a heavy-metal burger at Kuma's Corner. Finish with a drink at Central Park Bar.
Between errands, walk Milwaukee Avenue past Polish delis and Mexican restaurants, visit the galleries at the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, and look up at St. Hyacinth Basilica, one of the city's most striking churches.
Housing Types & Architecture
Avondale is a low-rise neighborhood of two-flats, bungalows and workers cottages, with small apartment buildings and new construction mixed in.
Two-flats are the classic Avondale home: brick buildings with a full-floor unit on each level, popular with buyers who want to live in one unit and rent the other. Chicago bungalows and older frame workers cottages fill many side streets, and some blocks have the feel of a quiet single-family enclave.
Larger four- and six-flats, condos in converted buildings and a growing number of new single-family homes and townhomes round out the stock. Much of the new construction replaces older cottages, so original homes are worth a look before they disappear.
The architecture reflects the neighborhood's working-class roots: modest, sturdy and mostly brick, punctuated by church steeples and old factory chimneys along the river and rail lines.
The quick read: a strong fit if you want a two-flat, a bungalow or a single-family home in a characterful, up-and-coming neighborhood. A harder search if you want a doorman building, big parks at your door or a train stop on every corner.
Get Personalized Guidance
LetsMovetoChicago.com founder John knows how to find the right real estate agent because he has been one since 2015. When it’s time to start your home search, John can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you’re focused on, at no cost to you!
Mural, Dawson Avenue, Avondale, Chicago, IL
National Savings and Loan Building (Bank of America Building), Diversey Avenue, Avondale, Chicago, IL
Convent, St. Hyacinth Basilica, George Street and Lawndale Avenue, Avondale, Chicago, IL
Milwaukee Avenue, Avondale, Chicago, IL
Dentist Sign, Milwaukee Avenue, Avondale, Chicago, IL
P. Czeslanski Building, Milwaukee Avenue and Allen Avenue, Avondale, Chicago, IL
What People Are Saying
Here's how people who live in Avondale describe it, summarized from public resident reviews: