East Side

Chicago, IL

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East Side - Chicago, IL

Area Guide

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Bask in outdoor recreation near Lake Michigan

Lakeside Affordable Active Historic Welcoming Diverse

Located on the southeastern side of Chicago, East Side offers residents direct access to Lake Michigan and the state of Indiana. Outdoor recreation abounds in East Side, from the 200-acre Calumet Park nestled alongside Lake Michigan to the rich, wet woodland of the 241-acre Eggers Grove.

An assortment of red-brick apartment buildings and single-family homes provides East Side residents with a host of affordable rental options. Interstate 90 runs through the eastern portion of the neighborhood, allowing for quick commutes to downtown Chicago, located just 13 miles north of East Side. The vibrant nightlife of Horseshoe Hammond is also just a short drive from East Side.

Rent Trends

As of January 2026, the average apartment rent in East Side is $1,058 for one bedroom, and $1,338 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in East Side has increased by 4.6% in the past year.

  • 1 BR

  • 627 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,058/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 431 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,338/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

63

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

40

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

69

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Reviews of East Side - Chicago, IL

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3.5 61 Reviews

Current Resident

12 months agoNiche Review

Where I live it's close to schools, grocery store and bus stops. Walking distance to Walgreens and restaurants. Never had any problems in this area, neighbors are nice and helpful

Former Resident

2 years and 11 months agoNiche Review

Great area with nice kept up housing mostly Hispanic and white. Great food and close to shopping. Feel very safe

Current Resident

6 years and 8 months agoNiche Review

The East Side of Chicago from a glance looks like a worn down suburb of the City, however, it has a lot more to offer than it may seem. The community for the most part is extremely welcoming. It is located by a bunch of old factories, because that is where the industrial part of Chicago used to be. I am committed to making the East Side a better place with my future degree by attempting to create a decline in gang violence and clean up some of the pollution that can be found not only in the air because of what used to be an industrial zone but the litter people keep throwing on the ground to this day.

Current Resident

7 years and 9 months agoNiche Review

The East Side is a place my family and I call home. My parents have lived in this neighborhood for nearly twenty years, and they seem to be content with their location; unless of course a major storm occurs, then they begin to consider the idea of moving to a place where the climate is not as extreme, as it is in the Windy City. The East Side is a special place to me because this is where I have formed many close relationships with my friends and family, and it will always hold these memories dear to my heart.

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Points of Interest

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Houses for Rent in East Side

Property Management Companies

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.