Living in Lincoln Square
Lincoln Square is the North Side's favorite grown-up neighborhood: a walkable European-flavored square at Lincoln, Lawrence, and Western, the Old Town School of Folk Music, Giddings Plaza's summer concerts, and calm residential blocks that families rarely leave once they land.
The feel
Small-town-in-the-city - the pedestrian plaza, Gene's Sausage Shop rooftop, Timeless Toys, and the Davis Theater anchor a genuinely local retail strip. Side streets are quiet, stroller-dense, and close-knit; Winnemac Park is the green heart on the eastern edge.
Homes & what they cost
Condos from the $200Ks, two-flats $550K-$850K, and single-family homes mostly $750K-$1.5M with renovated stock pushing higher near the square and Waters school. Inventory is chronically tight - well-priced family homes routinely see multiple offers.
Who it suits
Families targeting Waters and Bell school boundaries, buyers who outgrew Lakeview but want to stay on the Brown line, and anyone who wants a real neighborhood square instead of a nightlife strip.
Getting around
Brown line at Western and Rockwell, Metra UP-N at Ravenswood, and a quick River Drive to the lake. The Loop is about 30 minutes by L.
Lincoln Square questions, answered straight
Is Lincoln Square a good place to raise a family?
It is one of the most family-loved neighborhoods in Chicago - strong public schools like Waters and Bell, Winnemac Park, the Old Town School of Folk Music, and a walkable square. Its main challenge is supply: family-sized homes get competitive fast.
How much does a house cost in Lincoln Square?
As of mid-2026, single-family homes generally run $750K-$1.5M, two-flats $550K-$850K, and condos start in the low $200Ks. Proximity to Giddings Plaza and top school boundaries carries the premium.
Lincoln Square vs Ravenswood - what is the difference?
They blend into each other and are often shopped together. Lincoln Square has the commercial square and slightly higher prices; Ravenswood is the quieter, Metra-corridor residential strip east of it with industrial-turned-loft character. Same schools in several boundary areas.