BUCKTOWN / WICKER PARK
Quick Facts
Current Prices: $264,900 to $2,475,000
Closed Prices: $180,000 to $2,625,000
Median Sale Price: $613,750
Average $ per sq ft: $366
Association Fee Ranges: $0 to $721/mo, $0 to $245
Type: Attached Home (Condo, Townhouse, Loft, etc.), Single Family Home
Age: 1875 to 2021
Sq. Ft.: 360 to 6,000sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 0 to 7 bedrooms
Bathrooms: 1 to 6 bathrooms
(based on data from the last 12 months)
Price Vibes
It can be costly to be trendy. What was once a sanctuary for artists venturing off the beaten path has entered the mainstream, attracting the downtown working crowd. The average home price in Wicker Park is comparable to Lincoln Park and Bucktown, but inventory is more scarce and the price range is less forgiving. Even so, there's a reason why seemingly everyone wants to live in Wicker Park, higher price points seem more reasonable when you're paying for a newly renovated condo in a brick walk-up.
Where to Live
Wicker Park expertly blends high-end condominiums with classic single-family homes throughout its network of tree-lined streets that branch off Milwaukee Avenue. Along Western and Ashland Avenues there are mostly condominiums above storefronts that have traffic as a constant companion. Further away from the main roads, new or classic-looking small condo buildings and single-family homes fill the neighborhood. Residents near Milwaukee Avenue enjoy easy access to nightlife but also must contend with the crowds that spill over from the Six Corners. For a quieter time, stick to the side streets a few blocks from any of the main roads.
Where to Eat
When it comes to food options, Wicker Park offers a little bit of everything. If you’re craving it, Wicker Park likely has it. Milwaukee, North, and Damen Avenues feature everything from local chains to barbecue to Mexican to upscale donut shops. Big Star and Antique Taco are neighborhood staples for taco fans, while Stan's Donuts & Coffee is equally popular for breakfast or dessert. If you're ever hungry in Wicker Park, just walk to the Six Corners and look around you. It's really that simple.
What You'll See
Though it only recently became a haven for artists and entertainers, Wicker Park has already had to make way for the professional class. The neighborhood now has a reputation for housing accountants and lawyers alongside the previous wave of bike couriers and painters. Walking around the neighborhood, the sidewalk cafes seem to be perpetually busy. There are lines out the doors for the trendy bars, with patrons ranging from professional-chic to tattooed and pierced. The bustle can be intimidating, but it’s also part of the continued excitement behind the neighborhood’s growth.
Friday Night Fun
The epicenter of the neighborhood is the Six Corners intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North. Up and down the main streets are locally famous dive bars, craft cocktail establishments, and even arcade bars. There are also nearly endless art galleries to visit, a scene that is centered around the Flatiron Arts Building. There are also several live music venues that bring in the country's top acts and theaters that showcase some of the city's best productions. Late-night bars are plentiful, especially along North Avenue. People from all around the city come to Wicker Park for the varied and active nightlife, and after one night there, you'll see why.
The Perfect Sunday
Brunch is a sport in Wicker Park, where every restaurant tries to one-up the others, making the area an ideal neighborhood for brunch fanatics. Wicker Park, the neighborhood's namesake green space, is a favorite spot for playing with your dog or joining a pick-up game of basketball or soccer. The shops in Wicker Park are also highly coveted by outsiders, with used bookstores, large retailers, record stores, and boutique shops for everything imaginable. Residents of the area also enjoy simply strolling around this picturesque neighborhood.
Transportation Options
Wicker Park is obnoxiously convenient. Home to the famed Six Corners---where Milwaukee Avenue, Damen Avenue, and North Avenue meet---Wicker Park is accessible and easy to navigate. The Blue Line cuts through the center of the neighborhood, carrying you southeast into the Loop or northwest through Logan Square and Avondale. Bus lines run along the parameter of the neighborhood, moving east/west along North Avenue and Division Street and north/south along Western Avenue. You can also take the bus down Damen Avenue or through the bevy of bars and eateries on Milwaukee Avenue. The "Hipster Highway," so named for the caravan of cyclists that overtake Milwaukee Avenue during rush hour, also runs through the neighborhood, contributing to its bike-friendly reputation. The size of the neighborhood also means its very walkable, and parking is more plentiful than you'll find in Downtown neighborhoods.