My bandmates and I are going to be moving to Chicago in July of this year, and I need some advice from natives of the area. We're looking to get some sort of loft or flat to live in, but I can't find anything along the lines of what I'm looking for in the online listings. Also, we'll need a rehearsal space. Where are most of these located? What kind of price would we be looking at? Thanks in advance for the help.

Do you have more specifics as to size and price that you need?

Is access to public transportation necessary?

Humboldt Park has lower prices, but what you save in money, you might pay for by getting shot, getting robbed, etc. I have some friends who live in the area, but I don't think I'd be comfortable living there. Logan Square is similar, but in my opinion, its a little less sketchy. Also nearby are Ukrainian Village and Bucktown, a little more costlier, but less sketchy. Real estate folks right now seem to be big on calling Humboldt Park units "West Bucktown" to make it less scary.

Wicker Park is the area where the art kids flock to.. or at least that's how it started. Now the chads and trixies are moving there too.. and with them come a starbucks on every corner, etc.

Pilsen is another area that is more affordable.. and you can get some great Mexican food. I have a friend of mine who lives in a really sweet building here. If my life wasn't planted on the far northside, I would consider moving here. There are also lots of artists here.

The South Loop has some really nice lofts, etc., but I'm not sure how easy it would be to find nearby practice space.

Albany Park has some inexpensive places. I lived here for a while.. its nice in an unpolished, family-friendly kinda way.

I am in Uptown/Sheridan Park now and I love it because I'm so close to everything. I've lived in Andersonville/Ravenswood too. Also very nice. Lincoln Square is not too far from me, also a lovely area, and not insanely expensive yet.

Here are some sites I usually throw at people who want to know things about Chicago:

http://www.chicagocrime.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhoods_of_Chicago

Chicago is lovely! I hope you will be happy here

Thank you so much for your reply!

I think our budget is going to be between 1,000 and 1,200 dollars a month for rent. We've been looking in Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, and Uptown mainly, because we'd like to be close to downtown. We'd definitely prefer to be in an artsier district. There are four of us, so we're either looking for a two bedroom, or a large studio loft. Hopefully this is helpfuly information. Thanks again for the help.

It should be fairly easy to pull off a two bedroom for 1000-1200 a month. Lincoln Park might be stretching it; its the most expensive area you listed. And also (I think) the most annoying because parking is impossible and some of the residents are a little too snooty for my likes.

Wicker Park has the best bars, etc of the areas you listed. Uptown is coming up, but they're still working through a bit of an identity crisis. There's stuff to do at night, but I avoid certain parts at night because throngs of homeless people aren't my scene. Logan Square has some decent places to go out, but not quite the same level as Wicker Park.

Where are you guys moving from?

We're moving from Kalamazoo, Michigan, so it's not too epic of a move. We're only about two hours northeast.