Chicago/Compare
Loop vs Near North Side
Loop and Near North Side are official community areas in Chicago. Near North Side leads safety (21 vs 0). Loop leads walk. Near North Side has the lower ACS median rent ($2,277).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · CPD Sep 2025 – Aug 2026 · OSM Aug 2026 · updated Sep 2026
| Axis | Loop | Near North Side |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 0 | 21 |
| Schools | 23 | 40 |
| Walk | 100 | 72 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 100 | 70 |
| Median rent | $2,447 | $2,277 |
| Median home | $460,482 | $554,887 |
| Population | 42,550 | 100,633 |
| Commute to The Loop | 6 min | 12 min |
| Commute to North Side | 20 min | 13 min |
| Commute to West Loop | 37 min | 37 min |
Loop
Offices, Grant Park, and the L looping overhead. Walk scores max out; evening quiet depends on which block.
$2,447 median rent · safety 0 · walk 100
Near North Side
River North restaurants, Gold Coast towers, Streeterville walks to the lake. Official name is the community area — search the nicknames.
$2,277 median rent · safety 21 · walk 72
Scores are relative among official Chicago community areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.