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What $550K buys in Chicago right now

See homes in Logan Square, Bucktown, Bronzeville, and more

By Jay Koziarz
A contemporary kitchen with white countertops and wood cabinets. There are light hardwood floors and industrial style pendant accent lights. Courtesy Chicago Home Photos

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a weekly column that explores what you can buy for a specific dollar amount in various Chicago ‘hoods. We found five homes at or around today’s price of $550,000. Vote for your favorite below.

Lakeview

A living room with beige walls, light wood floors, and fireplace staged with a blue sofa and wood coffee table.
A U-shaped kitchen with light wood cabinets and stone counters.
A condo bedroom with beige walls and a gray bed flanked by globe-shaped lamps. There is a double glass door leading to a balcony.
Vertical gray striped walls line a bedroom with a bed, area rug, closet doors, and two nightstands with lamps. Photos by Redfin, courtesy listing agent Sarah Ziehr

Let’s start in west Lakeview where $550,000 buys this duplex condo along Diversey Parkway. The 2,200-square-foot floorplan includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms spread across its two levels. The home also comes with 10-foot ceilings, a living room with a fireplace, a second lower-level den, and a balcony attached to the master bedroom. Step out the back door and walk across the alleyway to Chi Che Wang Playlot Park.

Logan Square

A gray living room with a shag area rug, blue sofa, and metal bar cart.
Dark kitchen cabinets and white quartz countertops in a kitchen with decorate glass pendant lights.
A corner bedroom with gray walls and a bed with a white bedspread and gray pillows. There is a neutral colored bench at the foot of the bed.
A balcony with two red chairs across the street from a large development under construction with a ground-floor retail. Courtesy Katie Hutchens, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty

In the heart of Logan Square, this contemporary three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo offers buyers an extra roomy living room, a sleek kitchen, hardwood floors, 10-feet of headroom, a balcony overlooking Milwaukee Avenue, and a private rooftop deck. Listed for an even $550,000, the home is steps from the Blue Line and is directly across the street from the upcoming Target store in the Mega Mall redevelopment.

Bucktown

A timber loft bedroom with a wood ceiling, white walls, a gray sectional sofa, and a fireplace.
Kitchen with wood cabinets and a white stone island with a sink. There is track lighting and metal ductwork along the ceiling.
A loft bedroom with white walls and gray bed, two nightstands, a mirror on the wall, and an attached bathroom.
Next to the elevated 606 trial, an outdoor patio with a bench, two chairs, and table. Photos by Redfin, courtesy listing agent Michael Linden

While plenty of Bucktown listings tout their proximity to The 606, this rustic two-bedroom loft inside a 110-year-old former warehouse building literally abuts the popular elevated trail. Inside the unit, you’ll find high timber beam ceilings and an open-concept living room with a fireplace and quartz-topped breakfast bar. The master bathroom has been updated with a walk-in shower and soaking tub, and an outdoor terrace runs the full length of the loft. Own it for $549,900.

Bronzeville

A bright, gray living room with a wall of windows and recessed shelving and a tray ceiling. There is a gray sofa and two white leather chairs around a low coffee table.
A kitchen with a stone waterfall island with three stools and gray wood cabinets and stainless appliances.
Four chairs around a rectangular wooden dining table. The room has a small glass chandelier, gray walls, and white wainscotting.
A large neutral bed site in the middle of a gray room with four windows and a geometric rug and white leather bench at its foot. VHT Studios, courtesy Kemeyon McNair of Baird & Warner

You can pick up this roomy single-family home in Bronzeville’s Grand Boulevard community for $529,900. The newer-construction residence boasts four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and a main level sporting 15-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, a fireplace, built-in shelving, a chef's kitchen, and a dedicated dining area. The property—which comes with a private rear patio and two-car garage—is close to a Mariano’s supermarket and the 43rd Street CTA Green Line stop.

Portage Park

A contemporary kitchen and dining area with white countertops and wood cabinets. There are light hardwood floors and industrial style pendant accent lights.
A living room featuring blue walls, an owl painting, and midcentury inspired furniture including a gray sofa, green recliner, and a wood coffee table.
A bed with blue and yellow pillows centered on a rustic wood accent wall flanked by wood nightstands. There is a window and ceiling fan with wood blades.
A second bedroom with a wood bed frame, white walls, and a sloping ceiling. A single window is centered behind the headboard. Chicago Home Photos, courtesy Keller Williams Chicago-Lincoln Park

Last but not least, this single-family residence in Portage Park was built in 1916—but you wouldn’t know it judging by the contemporary interior. The Northwest Side property is full of upgrades, including a slick eat-in kitchen and reclaimed wood accent walls. There’s also a rear deck overlooking a backyard with a fire pit, pergola, and a detached garage. At $525,000, the home is the most affordable in the bunch.

Poll

Which home would you buy for $550K?

This poll is closed

  • 11%
    Lakeview
    (103 votes)
  • 22%
    Logan Square
    (198 votes)
  • 18%
    Bucktown
    (161 votes)
  • 20%
    Bronzeville
    (175 votes)
  • 26%
    Portage Park
    (227 votes)
864 votes total Vote Now

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