7.4 out of 10

Garfield Ridge

Ranked 17th best neighborhood in Chicago
41.7948362009189 -87.7664595277442
Great for
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Safe & Sound
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Internet Access
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • No ratings yet
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  •  
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Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Singles
  • Professionals
  •  

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"My childhood/early adulthood neighborhood."

I grew up in Garfield Ridge and lived there until I was 24, so I went to the local elementary school and participated in sports at a local park. It's a blue-collar neighborhood with many union workers, firemen, and policemen. It has always been one of the safer neighborhoods in the city (it's considered the southwest side). Growing up here, I never thought of the planes as being noisy and I wouldn't let it deter people from moving here. There are public and private elementary schools and a public high school. Oftentimes the freight train line that runs between 59th and 60th streets can often slow you down if you are going places. The neighborhood is a melting pot with much European ancestry, especially Polish. The nightlife is minimal with local bars dotting Archer Ave and 63rd Streets but nothing like you would have on the northside of the city or in the loop. I would definitely recommend this neighborhood for people raising a family but not so much for singles.
Pros
  • Many parks
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
KS KS
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Hidden southside gem."

Great for raising a family; fantastic neighborhood spirit and lots of community fun where everyone watches out for each other.
Pros
  • Mostly quiet, but you are close to the airport, so it can get loud
  • Pretty safe
  • Welcoming
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
2yrs+

"An Active Community"

If you’re in search of a community that takes neighborhood watch seriously, Garfield Ridge is the place for you. This South Side neighborhood is found just west of the Midway area, which makes it convenient for commuting into and out of the suburbs. The area is noted for its safety, which is enforced by members of the community that have created a patrol to ensure the streets stay safe at night. Historically referred to as the Clearing neighborhood, this was originally the site of a railroad-clearing yard.

Today, Garfield Ridge is mostly residential and has nice homes with prices on the rise. There has been lots of new construction, which is nice for residents. If you’re thinking of visiting the area, there really isn’t much to see. Not great for singles, students, and certainly not the place for hipsters, Garfield Ridge is most definitely the place for families.

The area kind of has more of a suburban feel than anything else, which is why I can’t imagine calling it home. I do appreciate its appeal to families. With a degree of safety that other areas simply can’t compete with, Garfield Ridge is convenient and a great place to settle down.
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Noisy and boring, but safe enough"

I can't claim to have an overwhelming amount of experience in Garfield Ridge. I've been through a handful of times, and each time I visited I did notice that it was a nice enough area, and didn't seem dangerous or unwelcoming.

There are a handful of places to eat and shop, but nothing extraordinary. I wouldn't avoid the area, but it doesn't have a lot to offer someone just looking for a visit.

The main thing to note about Garfield Park is how close it is to Midway airport. This can be a blessing or a curse. If you go on a lot of business trips or just like to get out of town from time to time, the proximity to the airport will likely be a big bonus if you live here. On the flip side, it can get noisy. I was here a while back, and it seemed like there was constant noise from airplanes going overhead. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for peace and quiet.
Pros
  • Pretty safe
  • Mostly quiet, but you are close to the airport, so it can get loud
  • Welcoming
Cons
  • Not a lot of outdoor options
  • Slow nightlife
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
2yrs+

"Nice enough"

The area sits close to Midway Airport and has seen some serious revitalization because of it. The area is mostly middle class and has a fairly decent draw of working families and those raising children. It also is mingled with residents who have been in the area for years and years. Their are some nice shops and convenience type stores that are very much accommodating to the residents, but there isn't much that is going to make tourists go crazy over the area. The only real draw in the area is it's proximity to the airport which will work nicely for tourists or business people who spend a great deal of time traveling.

Midway can create some significant traffic and noise in the area so people who don't like noise and a great deal of traffic will find the area annoying and difficult to live in.
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

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