You may associate the O’Hare name with Chicago’s massive Northwest Side airport. But it is also a park-filled residential neighborhood, not far from the tarmacs and terminals of O’Hare International.

O’Hare neighborhood is about 14 miles from downtown Chicago in a section of the city that’s surrounded by suburbs, forest preserves and—oh yes—major transportation options. In addition to air travel, this area is serviced by several key expressways: the Kennedy (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), and I-290 (which goes right to the center of O’Hare International Airport).

The O’Hare neighborhood is bordered by woods to the west and expressways to the north. The eastern and southern boundaries are Canfield Avenue and Argyle Street. Most of the real estate here is residential, however there is a showing of commercial and retail development along Cumberland Avenue, which bisects the community and acts as its main thoroughfare.

There are a few hotels and dining options just off the highway at Cumberland on the neighborhood’s north side. There’s also a Blue Line L train stop there. This pocket of restaurants and inns primarily serves the business and commuter traffic that comes through O’Hare Airport. Still, there are plenty of local residents in the area who dine and work at these establishments.

O’Hare neighborhood has quite a few public parks and playlots within its borders. For example, Grandparents Playlot is a small playground with park benches, green grass and a nice setting for families with young children to get some much-appreciated outside time. Of course, for those who seek a more adventurous outdoor experience, there’s always Chevalier Woods right next door. This huge forest preserve separates O’Hare neighborhood from the suburbs of Rosemont and Schiller Park, which surround O’Hare Airport on the eastern side. Head out for a hike along the nature trails or pack a lunch to eat at the picnic pavilion. It’s a wonderful amenity to have within a stone’s throw of your community—and certainly not something all Chicago neighborhoods have so close by.  

Real estate in O’Hare spans from modest cookie-cutter ranches to pricey custom-built homes. For the most part, people who live in O’Hare neighborhood reside in single-family homes that come in all shapes and sizes. Some have larger lots than the typical Chicago property, with room for backyard pools and attached garages with front-entrance driveways. Some blocks are lined with tightly-packed uniform houses that only differ from each other in exterior finishes. Other areas have suburban-esque cal-de-sacs where the houses are very spaced out from their neighbors and enjoy an extremely un-urban setting that you wouldn’t expect to find in a big city like Chicago.

Its proximity to one of the nation’s most traveled airports gives O’Hare neighborhood an advantage when it comes to getting where you need to go. Whether going on an overseas trip by plane or driving to another in-state destination by car, local residents can easily access their preferred mode of transit. The Blue Line L goes directly downtown to the Loop in about an hour, and it also goes in the other direction out to the airport (two stops away) in no time flat.