7.2 out of 10

Lincoln Square

Ranked 23rd best neighborhood in Chicago
41.9787634298806 -87.6885036162358
Great for
  • Eating Out
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Safe & Sound
  • Public Transport
Not great for
  • Nightlife
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Medical Facilities
  • Pest Free
  • Resale or Rental Value
Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
2yrs+

"No wonder this is one of Chicago's favorite north side neighborhoods!"

Lincoln Square combines old world charm, fantastic city parks, amazing local restaurants, and is rated "a walker's paradise" by WalkScore - a 98! It includes a variety of micro-neighborhoods and Chicago history - Rosehill Cemetery and Bowmanville, Welles Park and Sulzer Regional Library, a lovely portion of the Chicago River, and terrific locally-owned shops and restaurants in the Square itself. Old Town School of Folk Music, Cafe Selmarie, historic Kraus Music (Studio V), Chopping Block and the famous Lincoln Statue are some of my favorite landmarks. The Brown Line cuts through Lincoln Square, which has elevated home prices over the last 15 years. Kids come from all over Chicago to play baseball and football in the Welles Park sports programs. Housing stock is terrific - there are great new construction and vintage houses, multi-unit properties for investors, and also terrific condos for first time buyers.
Pros
  • Great parks
  • Lovely residential streets
  • Wonderful variety of housing stock
  • Quiet
  • Authentic German food
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"A highly liveable part of Chi-town"

Lincoln Square encompasses a fairly large area that includes Ravenswood, Ravenswood Gardens and Budlong Woods amongst other areas. Traditionally, the area was largely German. But in recent history, Lincoln Square has become decidedly more mixed in its makeup.

One of the more interesting aspect of the area is that there are many independently owned businesses. In fact, it is probably safe to state that Lincoln Square has one of the larger concentrations of independently owned businesses in the Chicagoland area.

Independent transit cuts across Lincoln Square making it relatively easy to get around. This fact also makes it an attractive option for those looking for places to live in the Chicagoland area.

An area highlight is the Rosehill Cemetery which is very large and quite impressive. While it might seem odd to single out a cemetery as a point of interest, the Rosehill Cemetery is no ordinary cemetery as it is home to many famous individuals and sports some interesting architecture as well. If you are looking for something to do on a budget, well, the price is certainly right, and you will be visiting a history rich area as well. Lincoln Park is probably best known within the city for its different events, such as the Ravenswood Run 5K, and its various public art works such as statues and murals.
Pros
  • Authentic German food
  • Convenient location
  • Quiet
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"Lincoln Square - Perfect Family Fun"

Lincoln Square is a nice, residential neighborhood. Its history is German, but it’s not a German neighborhood anymore. A lot of the people who live there are young families, and the neighborhood definitely has that kind of feel. It’s pretty similar in atmosphere to Roscoe Village.

The namesake of the neighborhood is the square – part of Lincoln Avenue is blocked off on one end and has a pretty little arch over the entrance. This gives the street a ‘Main Street,’ small town kind of feel. There are all kinds of activities that go on in this spot, including May Fest – German beer & brats.

The area is quieter than many others in the city, but it’s not like it’s dead – it’s definitely lively in a family-friendly way. There’s some great corner bars in the area, and tons of cute boutiques. Merz Apothecary is a cool shop that carries all kinds of natural and hard-to-find health and beauty products. Richochets is a nice, super friendly neighborhood bar.

There are a lot of bar-and-grill type restaurants in the neighborhood, as well as some Italian and pizza places. Chicago Brauhaus is a German restaurant that has pretty traditional food and the occasional Oompa band.

It’s a really nice, quiet area that’s good for families and has a real neighborhood feel.
Pros
  • a little far from downtown
  • Quiet
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
2yrs+

"Suburban Charm in the Heart of the City"

Found on the North Side of Chicago just north of Ravenswood, Lincoln Square is a largely residential setting. Its quiet charm makes it an ideal setting for families and those in search of a secluded area. The entire community of Lincoln Square encompasses the Lincoln Square neighborhood along with Ravenswood, Andersonville, Ravenswood Gardens, and Bowmanville.

The Lincoln Square neighborhood was originally a German settlement and that influence is still strong today. Home to the German-American fest, May Fest, and several other popular events, the neighborhood is considered a safe family-friendly area. There are numerous schools in the area along with several historic points of interest. Scattered throughout Lincoln Square are several murals, statues, and other examples of art, giving the area a unique charm.

If you want to taste some authentic German food, this is certainly the place to find it. The Chicago Brauhaus is perhaps the most well known of all German establishm
Pros
  • Quiet
  • Authentic German food
  • Convenient location
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Country Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Great German food in a mostly residential neighborhood"

Lincoln Square is a great little German neighborhood. It may not be as German as it once was, but it still has a bit of an old world feel to it. The houses and streets aren't as densely packed as some other areas, which is nice and makes for a good walk on a cool summer night. This atmosphere does have the drawback of higher home prices, but I'd still say it's worth it.
Food is my favorite part of Lincoln Square. There's some German in my family, and the Chicago Brauhaus is one of my favorite city restaurants. You can get all your German favorites here, and the atmosphere is wonderful for a meal with family. Whenever my extended family comes to town, we always go there. I've never been to Germany, so I can't say if it's all that authentic, but it sure is good.
One other thing I think of when I think Lincoln Square is The Book Cellar. It's a small independent bookstore with a really cool vibe. I'd visit there any time just to peruse their selection and enjoy the feel. I usually go to closer bookstores like Barnes and Noble, and while I love it there too, The Book Cellar is unique. You can't get that feel in a chain store.
Overall, Lincoln Square would be a great place to live, if you can afford it. It isn't the most expensive part of the city, but it is above average. Fortunately, there's good reason. You have a wonderful, friendly neighborhood with some good food and shopping destinations. Definitely recommended.
Pros
  • Cool neighborhood atmosphere
  • Quiet
  • Authentic German food
  • Safe
Cons
  • I've had traffic problems, although that may be just a few isolated instances
  • Expensive
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
4/5
2yrs+

"Trendy, but residential."

Lincoln Square is located in the northern part of Chicago and is accessible via the brown line. The neighborhood is mostly residential and is set up similar to most suburbs around the country. The businesses are located on three major roads, with most located on Lincoln Ave. The housing units stretch outwards from there with the business district being the most central area.

The area is somewhat trendy and a great place for a small family to get started. It offers the feel of the city while allowing for a more residential existence. The neighborhood is speckled with private residences and small apartment buildings with a few larger buildings being present. The area was once largely German and while the demographic has changed and altered over time the German influence can still be felt and several German businesses and restaurants still exist in the neighborhood.

Overall the neighborhood has a nice feel, but probably won't work for individuals who are looking for a true "big city" experience. The layout is very suburban even though it is located in one of the fast-paced cities in the world.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Neighborly feel of the suburbs with the pluses of a big city"

The Lincoln Square neighborhood a mostly residential neighborhood with a good mix of single-family homes and 6-unit apartment buildings, with some larger apartment buildings mixed in. Most of the housing dates to the early 1900's, but there is some newer construction. Definitely an upper-class, family-centered area. There is an actual Lincoln Square that anchors a fun business district, with a German-style apothecary, wonderful dessert shop, retro hair salon, and two independent book stores, one selling used books and the other selling a carefully curated selection of new books. Perhaps the most unique business in the area is one of Chicago's last bowling alleys without an automated scoring system. Lincoln Square is easily accessible by public transit. Buses run down Lawrence, the Metro North Line Ravenswood stop is about five blocks away from the heart of Lincoln Square, and the Damen Brown Line El station is right by Lincoln Square itself. Other attractions in the area include the Old Town School of Folk Music, a large, green park with softball in the summer, and a seasonal farmers' market right by the El station.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

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