Jefferson Park

Jefferson Park is located east of Norwood Park and Dunning and west of Sauganash, Albany Park and Irving Park. These family-oriented, middle class communities have, in recent years, felt a swell in real estate value. Single-family frame homes and bungalows are common in both neighborhoods, with a number of condos, Victorians, and Georgians as well. A significant portion of Chicago’s Polish population calls these neighborhoods home, and the influx of younger residents means that one can find hip, twenty-something hangouts between generations-old Polish groceries.

Real estate prices are very reasonable in these neighborhoods. The median cost of a home in Jefferson Park is $198,000 and in Portage Park is $207,000, so you can find many good sized homes that price under $200,000. The place has suburban charm to it, even though it is relatively close to the city. These two neighborhoods are both attractive spots to live and are only improving as additional people move in.

Portage Park, a community of 55,000, is surrounded by Montrose Avenue, Narragansett Avenue, Cicero Avenue, and Belmont Avenue. This diverse district is home to plenty younger families, with refurbished buildings among both older and new housing.

Portage Park proper is located at 4100 North Long Avenue and offers residents paths, tennis courts, basketball courts, athletic fields, swimming, and opens areas. Community activites provided by the park include aerobics, music lesions, sports classes and teams, sign language, and gymnastics classes.

The Kennedy Expressway and the Edens Expressway are located in the neighborhood, and CTA trains and busses run in the area.