Riverside is part of the Chicago area. This page covers the whole metro.
Big-city feel, Outdoorsy, Historic
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Chicago scores 70 or higher out of 100.
Less so: growing, artsy, cozy.
How locals describe Chicago
The words residents use most, from 64 comments on Reddit, City-Data and Quora. Bigger means more people said it. Tap a word to read what they said.
"It has world class food, culture, architecture, parks and an amazing lakefront."
"Chicago has like two months of nice weather the whole year, early summer and early fall."
A walk through Chicago
Places residents talk about, in their words. Each photo is of the place named.
Look around Chicago
Google Street View near the center of town, taken 2016-07. Drag to turn, click the street to move.
Open in Google MapsEveryday life in Chicago
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Around Chicago
What Chicago is known for
Every year
JulTaste of Chicago: food and music festival in Grant Parkenjoyillinois.com
SepWorld Music Festival Chicago: music festival featuring global artistsenjoyillinois.com
OctBank of America Chicago Marathon: annual marathon raceenjoyillinois.com
OctChicago International Film Festival: competitive film festival screening many filmschicagofilmfestival.com
Busiest time
Summer: peak tourist and festival season with warm weathertravel.usnews.com
On a normal week
Visiting beaches along Lake Michiganen.wikipedia.org
Walking along Lake Shore Drive waterfront parksen.wikipedia.org
Spending time at North Avenue Beachdirectionallychallengedtraveler.com
Take a tour of Chicago
"CHICAGO 4K Walking Tour | Walking in Chicago, Illinois, USA | Chicago City 4K Walk" by Worldly Walking, on YouTube. Not made by Varro.
One resident praised Jeong Boo for its steamed buns the size of a bowling ball priced at $3.50.
“substantially because of the steamed buns the size of a bowling ball for $3.50”
One resident weighing the city for kids cited Chicago Public Schools and childcare affordability as drawbacks alongside park programs and museums.
“Chicago Park District, museums Cons: Chicago Public Schools, finding good and affordable childcare, lack of family friendly events”
Old Town's bar row, including Benchmark, Woodies, and The Vig, draws a younger crowd on nights out.
“The row of bars you wanna hit will be all younger people.”
From 8 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident named Evanston Space, Thalia Hall, Empty Bottle and Salt Shed as favorite venues for programming, views and sound.
“Evanston Space, Thalia Hall, Empty Bottle and Salt Shed are my favorite Chicago venues! Great programming, solid views, solid sound, solid area...”
Read the full commentAbout 5 months agoOne resident analyzed about 1300 Chicago concert listings to find top genres by venue.
“I analyzed ~1300 Chicago concert listings to find top genres by venue · Concord has a bit of a funky mix with with Dance and Metal accounting for...”
Read the full commentAbout 8 months agoOne resident found it fairly easy to make friends in Chicago, noting many locals are from the area and tend to rely on existing networks
“I found it pretty easy to make friends in both cities. Chicago is a bit different since a lot of folks are both/raised here and seem to rely on...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident said that despite moving six months ago they have not made a single friend yet, admitting they have not really been trying
“I moved to Chicago about six months ago and, honestly, I haven’t made a single friend yet. To be fair, I haven’t really been trying, and I’m not even...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident said making friends in Chicago can be a bit more difficult compared to cities like Denver, Austin, or California
“So yes. Making friends in Chicago can be a little more difficult than say, denver, Austin, California, etc. My biggest advice to you is to find...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoNo resident has talked about dating here yet.
Old Town's bar row, including Benchmark, Woodies, and The Vig, draws a younger crowd on nights out.
“Go to Old Town. The row of bars you wanna hit will be all younger people. Benchmark, Woodies, Pour-house LGs, The Vig (gives out cookies at...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.Clark Street in Wrigleyville offers a dense cluster of bars with dives and sports options within a couple blocks.
“You want Clark St in Wrigleyville (take the red line to Addison). Tons of bars all within a couple blocks with a decent variety - dives, sports...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne bar hopper found Bucktown and Wicker Park surprisingly dead on a Friday night despite occupied bars.
“I was bar hopping in bucktown and wicker park last night and it just seemed dead on a Friday night. There were people in the bars but no were close...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoA longtime resident recalled that nightlife spots like Exit, Neo, Danny's, and Berlin used to be consistently crowded a decade ago.
“Someone else posted about going out. I remember about a decade ago places like Exit, Neo, Danny's, and Berlin (to name a few) were always crowded, and...”
Read the full commentAbout 11 months agoOne resident said going to bars or clubs still makes it really hard to form a friendship beyond a simple acquaintance
“I get going to bars/clubs and joining clubs but even then it is REALLY hard to make a friend beyond just an acquaintance. What about things specific for...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident said their direct communication style fit well with people in Chicago.
“I’ve always loved Chicago, mainly for the people. I’ve always felt my direct, to the point communication style fits in there and have felt people...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.Recent stories from local outlets. Tap a headline to read it.
About 29,768 business locations in the Chicago area, employing about 642,081 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
One resident said Chicago's job market is insanely competitive and that they applied to 340 jobs.
“Chicago right now is insanely competitive for jobs. Applied to 340 jobs. IL | $30-$40/hr + Benefits ・ pays $19.75/hr in Chicago DT area ・ $13 – $22/h Sales...”
Read the full commentOne resident found that salaries for jobs they are qualified for match the middle of private sector averages.
“Taking a look at the posts I'm qualified for, the salary is right in the middle of the averages I've seen in the private sector.”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoPick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
Tap a part of the city to read the comments on this page that name it. A number means residents mention it.
The city's official community areas, grouped by side. Source: City of Chicago.
Public transportation and the food and culture scene are described as great, though winters are super cold.
“Amazing. People are generally friendly, public transportation is great, food and culture are great. Weather is obviously super cold in the...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOld Town's bar row, including Benchmark, Woodies, and The Vig, draws a younger crowd on nights out.
“Go to Old Town. The row of bars you wanna hit will be all younger people. Benchmark, Woodies, Pour-house LGs, The Vig (gives out cookies at...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.Clark Street in Wrigleyville offers a dense cluster of bars with dives and sports options within a couple blocks.
“You want Clark St in Wrigleyville (take the red line to Addison). Tons of bars all within a couple blocks with a decent variety - dives, sports...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne bar hopper found Bucktown and Wicker Park surprisingly dead on a Friday night despite occupied bars.
“I was bar hopping in bucktown and wicker park last night and it just seemed dead on a Friday night. There were people in the bars but no were close...”
Read the full commentAbout a year ago“it just seemed dead on a Friday night”
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the Chicago area.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of the Chicago area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
What rent costs
Of about 1,210,359 rented homes in the Chicago area, 80% rent for under $2,000 a month and 95% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in the Chicago area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to Illinois: before and after
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Illinois DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: Illinois voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Public schools
144 public school districts in this county, with about 682,233 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Illinois keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $278/week about $14,500 a year | $208/week about $10,800 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $220/week about $11,400 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $189/week about $9,800 a year | $176/week about $9,200 a year |
| School-age | $83/week about $4,300 a year |
For an infant at a center: $278/week here, $283 across IL, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 15% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
73 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Chicago. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.