looking at apts in avondale (Chicago: neighborhoods, quality of life, living)

[jkemiv]

Anyone have information on the Avondale area? Just doing a little research before I move into any one area. I am planning on moving to Chicago in a few weeks. I've received some great feedback on the Logan Square and Wicker Park area. I am now curious about the Avondale area or any area close to the El "blue line.
Thank you in advance.

[Drover]

Avondale is a bit of a mixed bag. It's not a particularly gentrified area. It's something of an immigrant community; Mexican/Latino immigrants are scattered throughout the North and Northwest side but there is a pretty high concentration in Avondale. This affects the quality of life in aesthetic/superficial ways; namely, it's not a "neat and tidy" neighborhood. It's still relatively quiet and pretty safe by big-city standards, but it's quite a different neighborhood than Wicker Park, which is thoroughly gentrified. Logan Square is a bit harder to peg down; it's one of the strangest and truly diverse neighborhoods in the city. I described it in a different thread thus: "Logan Square is a very odd mix of retro-indie hipsters, yuppies and gangbangers all living side by side."

[j33]

That is a very good description of Logan Square. That has been my experience and impression as as well.