">Chicago, the largest city in Illinois has a population of approximately 2.7 million and the home of our current president Barack Obama. Chicago is the largest populated city in the midwest, and 3rd largest in the United States. Chicago was founded in 1833 and rests between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. Chicago's O'Hare Airport is the second busiest airport in the world. The city is a center for business and finance and is listed as one of the world's top ten Global Financial Centers. Chicago has been ranked by Forbes as the world's 5th most economically powerful city. Lovingly referred to as The Windy City, Chicago is home to more than 26 miles of lakefronts, 15 miles of bathing beaches, and 19 miles of lakefront bicycle paths. Chicago has more than 400 theaters and museums, historical sites and noteworthy institutions; making it a culturally and artistically diverse place to live.

Temperature

Average High - 85, Average Low - 18

Crime Rate

Chicago has one of the highest crime rates in the country; however, the crime rate in the suburbs is significantly lower.

Top Neighborhoods

Edison Park was a freestanding village until Chicago annexed it a century ago. However, Edison Park still feels like a self-contained community. With a small downtown whose popular restaurant cluster on Northwest Highway could be called Very Little Italy, Edison Park is considered a great place to live in Chicago. There are churches nestled into some of the residential blocks, and receives high marks for both good public (Ebinger) and private (Saint Juliana) elementary schools. Edison Park also has a recreation and sports hub at the well-outfitted Olympia Park.. Edison Park offers quick access to Marta's Public Transit system, great public, and American four square style bungalow and colonial style homes with convenient alley garages. Edison Park provides a combination of friendliness, amenities you can walk to, and a nice cultural mix of residents.

Roscoe Village, nestled between Addision Street to the North and Belmont Avenue to the south provides a culturally rich neighborhood with top rated schools, easy access to public transportation and great proximity to Hamlin Park. Roscoe Village's famous Roscoe Street offers funky shops and restaurants selling everything from healthy meals to hip baby clothes. This picturesque community seamlessly blends apartments and private homes and makes a great place for young urban families.

Beverly Hills or Beverly, located on the south side of the southwestern edge of the city, is one of the 77 official neighborhoods in Chicago. With 4 Merta stations sprinkled in the neighborhood, public transportation is in walking distance. There's great access to Highway I-57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway. Beverly offers numerous public and private school including high performing Vanderpoel Academy. The neighborhood has pockets of restaurants and stores throughout, with Evergreen Mall close by. In Beverly, you can have a classic summer moment at the original Rainbow Cone, where you can sample the five flavor ice cream that has been around for the past 80 years. The Beverly Arts Center provides a very busy calendar of performing arts events which contribute to Chicago's rich performing arts history.

Lakeshore East is a master planned mixed use urban development with access to Lakeshore Drive, the expressways, CTA (bus line) and the famous L train system. Lakeshore East features several of the tallest buildings in Chicago distinguished by Aqua towers; an 82 story apartment condo building that appears to be eroded from water. This planned community provides direct access to the lakefront and a great view of the Chicago skyline. Lakeshore East also boasts great green space in the form of Park at Lakeshore East. this is a model community for 21st century urban living.

Rockwell Crossing is a quaint, cozy community with a vintage Chicago feel. The mix of bungalows, mulit-flats and single family homes provides a nice cultural combination. Just 8 square blocks in size, Rockwell Crossing has a good private school and an above average public school. Retain and dining are in walking distance. Rockwell Crossing borders the north Verdant Branch of the Chicago River providing nice walking and bike trains to take advantage of.

Lakewood Balmoral, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1999), is a historic district in the Edgewater community of Chicago. Tree lined streets and brick homes rich in architecture, transports walkers back to an earlier time. But this is no bedroom community. There is high foot to the eclectic assortment of boutiques, stores, and restaurants that line Clark Street in Andersonville. Lakewood Balmoral is noted for the Helen Pierce School of International Studies, which has a modern addition and enriched curriculum. The CTA and the redline are within walking distance of this historic neighborhood.