Gresham
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Great for
- Cost of Living
- Public Transport
- Internet Access
- Parks & Recreation
- Childcare
Not great for
- Nightlife
- Eating Out
- Gym & Fitness
- Schools
- Lack of Traffic
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
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Reviews
Gresham
rating details
2yrs+
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Internet Access
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Childcare
"Auburn Gresham is a great place to stay"
This is my perspective being that I currently live in the community and have been here without issue 3yrs. I chose to live as close to Damen as possible. This makes a big difference. All the homes near me are maintained with clean streets and well kept lawns. My neighbors are families with and without small children, and older people. The neighborhood is mostly African American but other racial origins of people are moving into the area. There are a tons of parks including the Dan Ryan woods in which I walk without fear and people are friendly. People bike, walk jog and walk their pets in the neighborhood. If you move into the area I would recommend that you live anywhere between 8600 - 7900 blocks and within 5 blocks east of Damen. Shopping Malls and Big Box stores are only a 5 min drive away so you really have every amenity that you could want. There is even nearby electric vehicle charging stations. As far as the other reviews, the neighborhood is too big to be judged on its entirety. There are good, bad and areas of improvement in all neighborhoods.
Pros
- Auburn Gresham is a great place to stay with tons of neighborhood adjacent amenties
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Gresham
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Not recommended"
I will not be recommending Gresham for anyone to be living in any time soon. For those of you who like the area (I have no idea who you could be) I'm sorry, but it isn't the safest part of the city. I don't know the crime statistics off the top of my head, but I have no doubt it's higher than average. That alone is enough to avoid the neighborhood.
One other reason to avoid Gresham is that there isn't much to see. I can't think of many reasons people would have for visiting. The lack of good stores and restaurants immediately put it at the bottom of my list of neighborhoods.
I'm not entirely sure that Gresham is the most dangerous part of the city, and there are certainly areas with a worse reputation, but I wouldn't feel terribly comfortable here even during the day. With Superman walking next to me
One other reason to avoid Gresham is that there isn't much to see. I can't think of many reasons people would have for visiting. The lack of good stores and restaurants immediately put it at the bottom of my list of neighborhoods.
I'm not entirely sure that Gresham is the most dangerous part of the city, and there are certainly areas with a worse reputation, but I wouldn't feel terribly comfortable here even during the day. With Superman walking next to me
Pros
- It's really affordable
- Gresham helps you appreciate other neighborhoods
Cons
- Not safe
- No nightlife
- Nothing to do but be scared
Recommended for
- Singles
Gresham
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Have to get off the beaten path to appreciate"
I first became aware of this neighborhood in 1969 when my cousins moved there. Back then it was a pretty nice neighborhood. Lots of families with kids, pretty nice-looking homes, well-maintained. My cousins lived a block from the main commercial strip on 87th Street which included several neighborhood convenience/grocery stores and fast food restaurants. I used to love going to visit them. But the decades have not been kind here. The commercial strip seems to be still surviving and thriving, but the homes have deteriorated. There are still some patches away from the beaten path that appear to be decent and safe. But getting to them can be a challenge – especially on public transportation. Since my cousins still live there, I still visit them. But not nearly as often as I used to, and only during the day. Even then, I feel like I have to watch my back.
Gresham is not considered a “bad” neighborhood. Its residents have their fair share of crime and foreclosed homes in the current economy. Quite a few people – like my cousins - have lived there for decades and are now raising there own families there. There is a certain comfort in knowing where everything is in your neighborhood. Beyond that, I’m sure there are bargains galore on housing. Most of the homes are over 50 years old and are ripe for rehabbing.
Gresham is not considered a “bad” neighborhood. Its residents have their fair share of crime and foreclosed homes in the current economy. Quite a few people – like my cousins - have lived there for decades and are now raising there own families there. There is a certain comfort in knowing where everything is in your neighborhood. Beyond that, I’m sure there are bargains galore on housing. Most of the homes are over 50 years old and are ripe for rehabbing.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
Gresham
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Clean & Green
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
"Not my first choice"
Auburn Gresham is a South Side neighborhood full of bungalows and featuring the city’s busiest bus port. As far as public safety goes, be on your guard. Crime has gone down here in recent years because of community development – but if you aren’t familiar with the area, I wouldn’t recommend going alone. Then again, I’m not sure what would bring you out here unless you already lived here. Housing may be affordable, but there are nicer neighborhoods in Chicago with affordable housing.
I’ve heard that the new bungalow housing units built in Auburn Gresham are pretty impressive, but the surrounding area is what kills it for me. There is little to no commercial activity – and what is there is not that great. A few years ago when the housing bubble burst, this was a place full of foreclosure notices.
As far as crime and gang activity are concerned, Auburn Gresham is not the most dangerous place – Roseland, Englewood and West Pulham are worse – but it’s not a nice neighborhood, either. Like I said, there are better Chicago neighborhoods even if you are on a pretty tight budget – like Ashburn or Chicago Lawn.
I’ve heard that the new bungalow housing units built in Auburn Gresham are pretty impressive, but the surrounding area is what kills it for me. There is little to no commercial activity – and what is there is not that great. A few years ago when the housing bubble burst, this was a place full of foreclosure notices.
As far as crime and gang activity are concerned, Auburn Gresham is not the most dangerous place – Roseland, Englewood and West Pulham are worse – but it’s not a nice neighborhood, either. Like I said, there are better Chicago neighborhoods even if you are on a pretty tight budget – like Ashburn or Chicago Lawn.
