Guides|IL|Chicago|Neighborhoods|Old Town
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Anna Shoultz
Illinois Local Expert

Last Modified: January 9, 2026

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Old Town Neighborhood Guide

13of 55 Chicago Neighborhoods

2nd City Snark, Wells St. Patios, Art Fair

🧭Bordered by: North Avenue North, Division Street South, LaSalle Drive and Clark Street East, Larrabee Street and Clybourn Avenue West

📌Best known for: Second City legends, Wells Street patios, Old Town Art Fair

👕The neighborhood stereotype is: rehabbed stoops, college bros at the bars, comedy quotes

👍Move here for: leafy blocks, easy Red and Brown Line hops, and lots going on

👎The downside to Old Town is: Saturday bar hopper noise will carry, parking roulette exists here too, comedy tourists crowding your favorite 'local' spots, rent that keeps you on your toes

✨The overall feel is: storybook rowhouses, patio laugh tracks

Neighborhood Tags:
WalkableCar-free lifestyleGreat schoolsPublic transitYoung professionalsOutdoorsy

Pros & Cons of Old Town

Old Town strengths (top 5)

WalkableEvents & FestivalsGood SchoolsPublic TransitOutdoor Recreation

Old Town tradeoffs (top 3)

Affordable HousingBreweriesPeaceful & Quiet
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Old Town Neighborhood DNA

patio pros, college bros, and improv addicts

Old Town neighborhood photo collage
Some of the Old Town hotspots include: Lincoln Park (Old Town access), Wells Street nightlife, Park West, and Sedgwick Stop.
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Anna Shoultz — Illinois Local Expert

At Snappy Scout, I combine lived experience with real neighborhood data to cut through the hype and help you make clearer decisions about where to move.

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Moving to Old Town - Make Sense Of Your Next Move

Whether you're new to Chicago or deciding which part of the city fits you best, Snappy Scout cuts through the noise and shows you what living here is really like. If you're still finding your way, start with our Moving to Chicago guide for the big-picture view — or compare Old Town against other parts of the city in our Chicago neighborhood guide.