River North Apartment Reviews
River North, Chicago, IL
River North is Chicago's go-to neighborhood for renters who want walkable downtown living without paying Streeterville prices. Below you'll find verified resident reviews, average rents, transit notes and the top-rated apartment buildings in River North.
River North Neighborhood Overview
Bounded by the Chicago River to the south and west, Division to the north and Michigan Avenue to the east, River North packs more art galleries, restaurants and nightlife per block than almost any neighborhood in the city. High-rises along State, Wells and Hubbard sit beside loft conversions in former cold-storage warehouses. It's the most rentable downtown sub-market in Chicago, with the deepest inventory of studios and 1-bedrooms.
Renter Lifestyle in River North
Expect a fast-paced, professional crowd: finance, consulting, advertising and tech. Mornings start with coffee at Sawada or Fairgrounds, lunch at the food halls in the Merchandise Mart, evenings at the galleries on Superior or the rooftops along Wells. Dog ownership is high and most new towers include rooftop dog runs and pet spas. The river walk is the neighborhood's de facto park.
Average Rent in River North
River North rents sit just below Streeterville and Fulton Market. Newer high-rises bundle pools, sky lounges, golf simulators and coworking spaces. Many landlords offer 1–2 months free, particularly on higher floors and longer leases.
| Unit Type | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,800 – $2,400 | Most affordable downtown studio market |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,200 – $3,400 | Deepest inventory in River North |
| 2 Bedroom | $3,200 – $5,800 | Corner units command premium |
| 3 Bedroom+ | $5,500 – $10,000+ | Limited; mostly penthouse tier |
Transit & Commute from River North
River North is served by the CTA Red, Brown and Purple lines at Grand, Chicago and Merchandise Mart. The Brown and Purple lines loop directly through the neighborhood, and the Red Line connects to O'Hare via the Blue Line at Jackson. Frequent bus service runs on State, Clark, LaSalle, Grand and Chicago Avenue. Walk Scores cluster in the high 90s.
- •CTA Red Line — Grand and Chicago stations
- •CTA Brown and Purple Lines — Merchandise Mart and Chicago stations
- •CTA Bus — #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, #65 Grand, #156 LaSalle
- •Metra — Ogilvie and Union Stations (15 min walk)
- •Divvy bike share and protected lanes on Kinzie and Dearborn
Best Rated Apartment Buildings in River North
Verified resident reviews from 6 buildings in River North.
AMLI 808
808 N Wells St
Kingsbury Plaza
520 N Kingsbury St
Grand Plaza
540 N State St
Hubbard Place
360 W Hubbard St
Wolf Point West
343 W Wolf Point Plaza
Marina City
300 N State St
What Renters Love and What They Don't About River North
Most-mentioned pros
- Walk to almost everything downtown — restaurants, galleries, offices
- Three CTA L lines within the neighborhood
- Deepest studio and 1-bed inventory of any downtown sub-market
- Strong concession environment, especially Q4 and Q1
- Riverwalk and Wolf Point provide rare downtown green space
Most-mentioned cons
- Heavy weekend nightlife noise on Hubbard, Clark and Division
- Limited true grocery options — Jewel on Clark or Whole Foods at Halsted
- Tourist foot traffic near Michigan Avenue and the river
- Parking is expensive and scarce; garages run $300–$450/mo
