6.3 out of 10

Jefferson Park

Ranked 39th best neighborhood in Chicago
41.9781112094611 -87.7694149428304
Great for
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Public Transport
  • Internet Access
  • Safe & Sound
  • Parks & Recreation
Not great for
  • Shopping Options
  • Nightlife
  • Gym & Fitness
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  •  

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Jefferson Park - Decent Food, Interesting Shopping"

Jefferson Park is a safe, quiet and residential neighborhood. There are a lot of homes in the area perfect for families. Jeff Park has a ton of Polish people (they have a festival here, as others have noted) and a lot of Irish as well. The park that the neighborhood is named after is huge and has baseball fields and a pool, among other family-friendly amenities.

There are some great Polish and Irish shops and delis in the neighborhood. As far as eating goes, two places definitely stand out to me. First is the Blue Angel. It’s just a diner, but it’s definitely a neighborhood institution. We always laugh about it because it’s one of my grandpa’s favorite spots for reasons no one really knows. But it does have really good diner food. Second is Gale Street Inn. They’re known locally for their ribs, but all of their food is good. It’s classic American stuff – ribs, fish, burgers, all delicious.

If you’re in the mood to buy some really weird stuff, head to American Science and Surplus on Milwaukee Avenue. They have all the typical things you’d find at any Army & Navy surplus store, but there’s much more. You can find everything from doctor’s tools to microscopes and strange lab equipment there. If you have some time to kill it’s really fun to poke around in there, and you may find something you never knew you wanted or needed!
Pros
  • quiet
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Good for family celebrations and neighborhood spirit"

Located on the Northwest Side of the city, Jefferson Park is a little further out from the heart of the city and downtown, but it has many interesting little spots worthy of exploration. Jefferson Park is a predominantly white area with a sizable Hispanic minority. Jefferson Park is also home to a large park of the same name which is focal point for city life.

The area has a large Polish population and is, in fact, the home for the Copernicus Foundation. The Copernicus Foundation is located in the famous local landmark the Gateway Theatre, and the organization oversees a variety of activities for the benefit of the community.

If you are in town in September, you should check out the very popular and festive Taste of Polonia celebration. In short, this dynamic festival is certainly worth the time. This festival is one of Chicago's biggest and is worth the trip! Held in the Copernicus Cultural and Civic Center in Jefferson Park, this four day celebration covers all things of Polish heritage and includes everything from food to artwork. Tens of thousands of people usually attend the event every year making it quite an interesting side trip for any visit to Chicago.
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
2yrs+

"Northwest Tranquility"

Jefferson Park is noted for its large Polish population and its well-known festival, which is called Taste of Polonia. One of the most ethnically rich areas in the city, Jefferson Park also includes access to beautiful parks, restaurants, and a large Irish population. Whether visiting or calling Jefferson Park home, the tons of transportation options make it easy to get in and out of the community. As one of the 77 official Chicago communities, Jefferson Park is appreciated for its historic and cultural contributions to the city.

My favorite part about Jefferson Park is the endless dining options. From taverns to barbeque joints, you’ll find it all here. There are also many cultural areas to explore, including several theaters. Jefferson Park is appreciated for its many areas of outdoor recreation, which includes the 7-acre park of the same name. The Gateway Theater, which was once a movie palace, is one of the area’s most beloved historic structures.

All in all, Jefferson
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
2yrs+

"gateway to chicago"

is what Jefferson Park has been called.

a nortwestern neighborhood in Chicago- like many north side neighborhood is home to a great many city workers and has a large Polish population.

Home to the Gateway Theatre which was formerly a movie palace now is the seat of the Copernicus Foundation.

The neighborhood puts on 2 big fests every year the Taste of Polonia and Jeff Fest.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Historic and Classic"

Jefferson Park is known as the Gateway to Chicago. Just as Staten Island is NYC's window to the world for travelers and immigrants, Jefferson Park is that for Chicago. The main attraction in this area is the variation of real estate. This neighborhood is very historic and dated, but the living areas have become modernized, while still maintaining some of the historic architecture that makes this area so classic and enjoyable. It also has a small town feel while being on the outskirts of downtown Chicago. It's rare to find a place that balances a small town feel with the hustle bustle of the big city so near by, but Jefferson Park does it within an affordable real estate price range.
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Nice, but unremarkable."

Jefferson Park is a decent neighborhood that I've been through only a handful of times during my lifetime in Chicago. I can't claim to have very much to say about the neighborhood, but that is mostly due to the fact that it's a relatively quite neighborhood without a ton of really great places to eat at or see.

This isn't to be overly critical of Jefferson Park, it just isn't as happening a place as other parts of Chicago. I have enjoyed some Mexican food here on occasion, but it is mostly a quiet, residential area. Home prices are not that high, and they tend to be decent homes. Crime isn't too bad from what I recall, and I didn't feel unsafe here, but I wouldn't say there's a lot of crime here either.

The biggest negative I would place on Jefferson Park is that it's just another neighborhood. Not really special, but that's not to say bad. Just unremarkable.
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Families with kids

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