The 10 Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Chicago

ZIP codes in California and New York took the top two spots, respectively, on the most recent Forbes annual list of America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes; Chicago ranked lower, which means that the most upscale homes in that city, while still costly, are something of a bargain compared to some other locales.

To find the priciest areas, housing market data provider Altos Research calculated a median, rolling average for single-family homes and condos in ZIP codes across the U.S. over a 90-day period ending Oct. 9, 2015. While only the 500 most expensive ZIP codes made it to the Forbes list, 29,500 ZIP codes (covering 95% of the population) were analyzed. We used the data from Altos Research to find the 10 most expensive ZIP codes in Chicago.

The priciest Chicago ZIP code is 60654, which encompasses the River North neighborhood. River North is Chicago’s densest gallery center and is also known for its fine dining and nightlife. In this neighborhood, the median home price is nearly $3 million. At that price, buyers will find a small inventory of spacious four-bedroom/bath condos in full-amenity buildings; they'll also have access to a deeper selection in the $1 to $2 million price range. (For more, see What You Should Know About Real Estate Valuation.)

Presently, the most expensive River North listing is a $5.4 million, 6,800 square-foot penthouse condo. This listing features four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a luxurious master suite, an upgraded kitchen with commercial-grade appliances, 360-degree views from the floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound terrace. 

Chicago has plenty of ZIP codes with homes in the $1 million-plus price range in addition to River North. Here are the city’s 10 most expensive ZIP codes – from highest to lowest – along with the median home price and the average number of days on the market (per Forbes). The median household income is from Esri (the Environmental Systems Research Institute), a company that provides maps, data and apps through geographic information systems.
 

1. 60654 – RIVER NORTH ​​

Median Price: $2,968,242

Average Days on Market: 101

Median Household Income: $97K

2. 60610 – RIVER WEST

Median Price: $2,764,423

Average Days on Market: 263

Median Household Income: $60K

3. 60611 – STREETERVILLE

Median Price: $2,562,115

Average Days on Market: 243

Median Household Income: $81K

4. 60614 – OLD TOWN TRIANGLE

Median Price: $1,917,258

Average Days on Market: 159

Median Household Income: $86K

5. 60657 – LAKEVIEW

Median Price: $1,503,346

Average Days on Market: 115

Median Household Income: $73K

6. 60613 – LAKEVIEW

Median Price: $1,500,615

Average Days on Market: 125

Median Household Income: $65K

7. 60605 – SOUTH LOOP

Median Price: $1,153,263

Average Days on Market: 88

Median Household Income: $80K

8. 60640 – UPTOWN

Median Price: $1,092,296

Average Days on Market: 133

Median Household Income: $39K

9. 60607 – THE LOOP

Median Price: $974,500

Average Days on Market: 109

Median Household Income: $79K

10. 60622 – BUCKTOWN

Median Price: $943,461

Average Days on Market: 101

Median Household Income: $54K

Chicago’s economy is centered around finance and insurance, manufacturing, printing and publishing and food processing (the city is considered the candy capital of the U.S). While there’s a history of rivalry between Chicago and New York City –  Cubs vs. Mets, deep-dish vs. thin-crust pizza, Grant Park vs. Central Park – you’ll get a lot more house for your money in Chicago, even if you live in one of the Windy City’s most expensive ZIP codes. For help in the process, see The 5 Best Real Estate Lawyers in Chicago.