- Humboldt Park, Huntley and Belmont Cragin are Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods of 2026.
- Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods offer a mix of affordability, space and access to popular amenities.
Humboldt Park is Chicago’s hottest neighborhood of 2026, followed by Huntley and Belmont Cragin.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Zip Code | Median Sale Price | Median Sale Price (YoY) | Median Days on Market | Share of Homes Sold Above List Price |
| 1. | Humboldt Park | 60651 | $361,000 | 3.1% | 75 | 43.1% |
| 2. | Huntley | 60142 | $397,750 | -0.5% | 73 | 18.7% |
| 3. | Belmont Cragin | 60634 | $377,500 | 1.8% | 61 | 43.6% |
| 4. | Carol Stream | 60188 | $367,000 | 2.8% | 48 | 40.3% |
| 5. | Orland Park | 60467 | $430,750 | 14.9% | 59 | 21.6% |
| Chicago metro area | $360,000 | 4.3% | 70 | 32.2% |
This is according to a Redfin analysis ranking U.S. zip codes of neighborhoods in Chicago’s metro area by year-over-year growth in listing views on Redfin.com and Redfin Compete Score—a measure of how difficult it is to win a home. See the methodology section at the end of this report for more details.
These neighborhoods tend to appeal to buyers who want to stay close to established communities and popular places without paying top dollar, Daniel Close, a Redfin Principal agent in Chicago, said.
“Chicago is a huge city geographically, so you can live in one neighborhood and move an hour away and still be in the city,” he said. “You can live outside the trendier neighborhoods, but be as close as a bike ride away to everything Chicago has to offer.”
Chicago’s housing market is roughly balanced between buyers and sellers this summer. Inventory is limited, while higher mortgage rates are keeping some would-be buyers and sellers on the sidelines, he added.
“If a home is desirable, well-priced and compelling, it’s going to go into a bidding war,” Daniel said.
Chicago home sellers may find Redfin Early Access, which allows them to start marketing their home as “coming soon” before its official market debut, helpful in determining the right price, especially for unique homes for which there aren’t many comparable recent sales.
Here’s what Redfin agents have to say about Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods of 2026:
Humboldt Park is a top choice for buyers who want a neighborhood with plenty of character and relatively affordable prices. Humboldt Park’s central location, close to Logan Square, is also helping fuel demand, Daniel said.
“Humboldt Park is having its moment in the sun,” Daniel said. “As the neighborhood has grown in prominence, the park has become one of the most impressive public parks in Chicago, which is also a huge driver for people moving there.”
2. Huntley
Huntley is drawing buyers who want more home and land for their money.
“There’s a lot of new construction in Huntley,” John Malandrino, Redfin’s Chicago Market Manager, said. “It’s a good option if you want to buy a brand-new home or rehab a fixer-upper. These options make it a great neighborhood for first-time homebuyers who want to live within commuting distance of downtown.”
Like Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin is seeing a lot of growth because it’s just west of Logan Square.
“Belmont Cragin has long been known for its affordability,” Daniel said. “Recently, this neighborhood has seen home values rise because of its proximity to other Northwest Side neighborhoods that have become less affordable in recent years, such as Logan Square and Avondale. Buyers are looking to Belmont Cragin as a solid and practical option.”
4. Carol Stream
With its parks, sports fields and convenient location, Carol Stream is appealing because of the suburban lifestyle you get without the price tag of some of Chicago’s pricier suburbs, John said.
“Carol Stream is an established neighborhood that gives buyers a chance to get into the suburbs,” he added.
5. Orland Park
Orland Park is attracting buyers with its restaurants, parks and easy transportation options.
“Home values are seeing a sharp increase due to lack of inventory in Orland Park,” John said.
Methodology
This Redfin analysis ranks U.S. zip codes of neighborhoods in the Chicago metro area by year-over-year growth in listing views on Redfin.com and Redfin Compete Score—a measure of how difficult it is to win a home in a particular area based on factors including days on market, share of homes that sold above their listing prices and sale-to-list price ratio. The Compete Score for an area is rated on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 is the most competitive. Please note that zip codes may encompass more than one neighborhood, village, or town and we use neighborhood names that are representative of the area covered.
All data represents January – February 2026, with year-over-year data compared against the same timeframe in 2025.
To make the list, a zip code must have recorded 50+ home sales between January 1 and February 28 and have a Redfin Compete Score above 50.
