5 Best Chicago Neighborhoods for Black Singles, Young Professionals, & Families – Illinois

The third most populous city in America, Chicago is known for its contributions to education, industry, and transportation.

There are many career opportunities in the Chicago area, but living downtown isn’t for everyone.

These are five of the best neighborhoods to live in for black families and young black professionals and singles.

3 Best Chicago Suburbs For Black Families

Glendale Heights

If you’re looking to settle down with your family, Glendale Heights is one of the best Chicago neighborhoods for black families.

Located in DuPage County, Glendale Heights is conveniently situated close to the I-355 highway and has access to the Pace bus service and the Metra rail system.

Glendale Heights has a crime rate of 12 per 1000 residents, near the average crime rate for American cities.

The cost of living in Glendale Heights is comfortably within the national average, and housing is particularly affordable.

Niche.com ranks Glendale Heights #2 out of 363 among the most diverse suburbs in Illinois.

The population is 34% white, 32% Hispanic, 22% Asian, and 8% black and African American.

The top public schools serving Glendale Heights are Glenbard West High School and Wheaton North High School.

Wheaton College is only three miles away from Glendale Heights.

This diverse suburb is a great place to live if you want to raise a family in a low-crime area with high-quality schools.

Westmont

Westmont has an urban, suburban mix feel, and if you want to buy a house, it is much more affordable than the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Metro line to Chicago runs right through downtown Westmont, making for an easy commute if you work in the city.

The public schools in Westmont, including Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale South High School, and Westmont high school, all have a rating of ‘A’ or higher from Niche.

Violent crimes are well below the national average in this suburb.

Westmont is a peaceful and relatively affordable place to own a home and raise a family.

The demographics of Westmont are moderately diverse, with 61% of the population being white, 15% Hispanic, 14% Asian, and 7% black or African American.

The downtown features many restaurants, and there are plenty of lovely parks in the area where athletic people can feel safe playing sports and going running.

Westmont’s proximity to outdoor destinations like Ty Warner Park and the Morton Arboretum make it a wonderful place to live if you and your family enjoy the outdoors.

Overall, this unassuming little suburb is a great place to live if you buy your first house and settle down with your family.

Evanston

Evanston is one of the top ten best suburbs in Illinois, and 56% of the residents own their own homes.

The town has an urban feel and has many restaurants, coffee shops, and beautiful parks.

The streets are pedestrian-friendly, and it is easy to walk and bike around.

The population of Evanston is pretty racially diverse, with 59% white residents, 16% black or African American, 12% Hispanic, and 9% Asian residents.

Violent crimes are lower than the national average, and Evanston’s public schools are highly ranked.

Evanston is home to many small museums like the Block Museum of Art, the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, and the Frances Willard House Museum.

Evanston also has several small shopping districts, where visitors and residents alike can find ethical fashion, hemp and CBD products, jewelry, and a diverse selection of foods like sushi, kombucha, Korean-American cuisine, and of course, coffee.

Bring your family to Evanston, a safe, diverse, and beautiful Chicago suburb.

2 Best Chicago Neighborhoods For Young Black Professionals & Singles

Hyde Park

If you are a young single professional or student, Hyde Park is an excellent choice for you.

Based on statistics from the U.S. Census, Hyde Park is ranked #8 of 94 among the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago and ranked #11 of 94 in the “best neighborhoods to live in Chicago.”

According to Wikipedia, Hyde Park is “an important cultural and political hub of Chicago’s black community.”

Many of Chicago’s black politicians, including former President Barack Obama, have lived in Hyde Park.

The population in Hyde Park is 47.9% white, 26.4% black, 13.5% Asian, and 7.4% Hispanic or Latino.

Illinois.gov reports that, as of 2019, 50.7% of the population had attained a Graduate or Professional degree. A further 24.7% had earned a Bachelor’s degree.

Hyde Park is home to the University of Chicago, and the blocks surrounding the university have a lot of student and faculty residences.

The median age in Hyde Park is 31.7, and 54.5% of the households are one-person households, followed by 26.4% being two-person households.

Young, educated professionals make up a large portion of the population in Hyde Park. If you are a young black single or professional, you will feel right at home here!

West Ridge

The population of West Ridge is ranked the most diverse in the Chicago area, the population being 41% white, 24% Asian, 19% Hispanic, and 12% black or African American.

The only downsides to this neighborhood are the level of criminal and gang activity and the rising cost of housing.

Rent is slightly higher than the national average, and 52% of this urban-suburban mix neighborhood residents rent their homes.

Public schools, however, are above average.

West Ridge is a quiet and peaceful place to live, near the city, but lacking the bustling city feel.

There are plenty of places to visit in the neighborhood, like parks, beaches, local businesses, and community centers.

Thanks to its diversity, peaceful atmosphere, and downtown and outdoor activities, West Ridge is one of the top Chicago suburbs for young black professionals and singles.

Is Chicago Safe?

When moving to a new city, it’s essential to research how safe that city is.

This is especially true if you have a family and want to raise kids in a peaceful environment.

When you live near a big city like Chicago, there is bound to be some criminal activity in your area.

As of 2012, Illinois scored a 2.89 on the United States Peace Index.

The Peace Index rates each of the fifty states on a scale of one to five, with one being the most peaceful.

The Peace Index ranks Illinois as the 16th most violent state in America.

In 2019, Illinois reported a violent crime rate of 406.9 per 100,000 of the population.

What Is Chicago’s Demographic?

When you’re moving to a new city, it’s important to know the demographics and whether the population is suitably racially diverse.

Chicago has a population of 2.6 million as of 2019, and The United States Census Bureau reports that 29.6% of Chicago’s population is black and African American.

50% of Chicago’s population is white.

A further 28.8% is of Hispanic or Latino descent.

Finally, 6.6% of Chicago’s population is Asian.

Gender is almost evenly balanced, with 51.3% of the population being female and 48.7% male.

If you are a young single professional or student, you will be part of the largest age demographic in Chicago, those aged 25-34 years.

People aged 25-34 years old make up 19.8% of the population.

Those aged between 35-44 are the next largest age group in Chicago, making up 14.5% of the population.

Top Chicago Neighborhoods for Black Families, Conclusion

Chicago is a hub for business, transportation, and culture in the Midwest and America at large.

Whether you are a young family looking for your first house, a student seeking housing outside downtown Chicago, or a professional looking to start your career in the Windy City, the Chicago suburbs have a lot to offer.