Chicago/Compare
Douglas vs Near West Side
Douglas and Near West Side are two official community areas in Chicago. Douglas is the calmer Part I map (11 vs 5). Near West Side wins the errand count. Douglas has the lower ACS median ($1,059).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · CPD Sep 2025 – Aug 2026 · OSM Aug 2026 · updated Sep 2026
Scores
Fit axes among official Chicago community areas.
| Axis | Douglas | Near West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 11 | 5 |
| Schools | 7 | 40 |
| Walk | 2 | 65 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 4 | 55 |
| Median rent | $1,059 | $2,013 |
| Median home | $330,291 | $483,709 |
| Population | 21,088 | 68,165 |
| Commute to The Loop | 27 min | 37 min |
| Commute to North Side | 36 min | 40 min |
| Commute to West Loop | 18 min | 6 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Douglas | Near West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 80% | 65% |
| Median age | 34.2 | 32.3 |
| Median income | $53K | $121K |
| Part I per 1k | 62.4 | 74.4 |
| Groceries / 800m | 6 | 40 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 108 | 404 |
| Parks / 800m | 103 | 622 |
| 311 last 14 days | 64 | 477 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Chicago city. Up 50% since 2014. Bronzv is 26% below the 2024 city median. W Loop is 40% above the 2024 city median.
Overlapping 5-year ACS windows (B25064), not asking rent. Census does not publish a rent series for each official neighborhood, so the line is the city place. Dashed marks are each area’s ACS 2024 median.
Which to pick
The same numbers as the table, in sentences. Nobody wins the city.
Pick Douglas if the rent gap is the point and the shorter ride to The Loop is the point. ACS median rent is $1,059 vs $2,013. 27 vs 37 minutes to The Loop. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick Near West Side if you want the cafes and the night and you want the errands on foot. Vibe is 55 vs 4. Walk is 65 vs 2. Schools score 40 vs 7. Read both pages before you decide.
Douglas
Bronzeville history on the official Douglas map. Boulevards, new builds, and a short ride to the Loop.
$1,059 median rent · safety 11 · walk 2
Near West Side
Fulton Market restaurants, United Center nights, and new towers. Property crime follows the dinner rush.
$2,013 median rent · safety 5 · walk 65
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Douglas or Near West Side?
Douglas is the lower ACS median: $1,059 vs $2,013. About 80% rent in Douglas vs 65% in Near West Side. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Douglas more walkable than Near West Side?
Near West Side wins the errand count (walk 2 vs 65). Groceries inside 800 meters: 6 vs 40. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Douglas or Near West Side?
Douglas is the calmer Part I read (11 vs 5). Combined rate 62.4 vs 74.4 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Douglas or Near West Side?
Near West Side leads the school axis (40 vs 7). Nearby rating is 7.0 / 10 vs 6.0 / 10. Median age 32.3 vs 34.2. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to The Loop?
27 minutes from Douglas to The Loop, 37 from Near West Side. Douglas is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official community area that is not Douglas or Near West Side: Bridgeport. Sox territory, bungalows, and a Chinatown-adjacent grid. South Side without a lakefront premium.
Scores are relative among official Chicago community areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.