See How Much It Costs To Rent Near CTA Stations And Cry... Or Laugh

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 5, 2017 6:00PM

Red Line, photo via Chicagoist Flickr Pool User Tripp

It's no secret that renters pay more for proximity to 'L' stops, even as massive disparities exist between the most expensive 'L'-adjacent markets and the least. How can easily chart those disparities—plus take note of which stations are soaring in terms of nearby rental costs and which ones are dipping—in a handy new interactive map from apartment-search site RentHop.

A few things jump out right away. Deep purple dots, representing the highest-cost stops ($2,1000) are concentrated mostly in and around the Loop, with the next highest rate, red ($1,800+), tending to cluster nearby. None of which should surprise anyone with a rudimentary understanding of neighborhood real estate. The cheapest rates (hard green on the legend) are mostly found on the South and Southwest side, with several represented out West. Not always, though, does the cost steadily decrease along a line as you move away from downtown however. Note the dip-rise-dip pattern, for example, from California to Kedzie to Central Park avenues along the outbound Pink Line.

Aside from median rents, the map data also includes, how much median rents have risen or fallen within the last year in a given stop locale.

The westernmost Green Line stops are among the highest spikes. Apparently value is increasing in the near 'burbs. (See also: Chicago's population decline.) The 18th St. Pink Line station was also among the stops that spiked up over the last 12 months (more than 9 percent over last year). Again, no shocker, given the Pilsen neighborhood's (and in particular that patch of neighborhood's) ongoing gentrification dilemma.

Largest increases (1 bedroom) by stop:
Green Line - Harlem/Lake - (+15.3%) $1,524
Red Line - Lake Street - (+14.8%) $2,225
Green Line - Oak Park - (+14.4%) $1,545
Green Line - Cottage Grove - (+11.5%) $1,254
Purple & Brown Line - Chicago Ave - (+11.1%) $2,150
Pink Line - 18th Street - (+9.2%) $1,269.50

Largest decreases (1 bedroom) by stop:
Pink Line - Polk - (-8.6%) $1,787
Blue Line - Illinois Medical District - (-8.5%) $1,785
Brown, Orange, Purple, Pink Line - Washington/Wells - (-7.9%) $2,265
Blue Line - Clinton - (-7.9%) $2,090
Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple Line - Randolph/Wabash - (-7.7%) $2,125

Apartment shoppers, plan your hunt accordingly.

[H/T Curbed]