Edgewater vs. Andersonville is one of the most common comparisons I walk buyers through on Chicago's North Side, and it's a bit of a trick question. Andersonville isn't one of the city's official community areas, and most of it sits inside Edgewater. So the real choice is between lakefront Edgewater, with its Sheridan Road high-rises and beaches, and the Andersonville side, built around the shops of N Clark Street and the vintage blocks around it. Here's how they compare on housing, transit and the lakefront, so you can decide which side fits your next move.
In this guide:
- How Edgewater and Andersonville fit together
- Edgewater vs. Andersonville at a glance
- Lakefront Edgewater: high-rises, landmarks and beaches
- Andersonville: Clark Street and vintage side streets
- Getting around
- Which side fits your next move?
- FAQ
How Edgewater and Andersonville Fit Together
On the City of Chicago's community-area boundary map, Edgewater runs from Foster Avenue north to Devon Avenue, and from Lake Michigan west to about Ravenswood Avenue. Uptown is to the south and Rogers Park is to the north.
Andersonville is a neighborhood, not a community area. Its business district follows N Clark Street, and the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce's special service area runs along Clark from Ainslie Street north to Victoria Street. When I check those blocks against the city map, everything north of Foster Avenue falls inside Edgewater, while the short stretch between Ainslie and Foster is in Uptown. That's why you'll see Andersonville homes listed as Edgewater, Uptown, or simply Andersonville.
In practice, buyers are comparing the lakefront side along Sheridan Road and Broadway with the Clark Street side, roughly a mile from the lake. My Edgewater and Andersonville neighborhood pages cover each one on its own.
Edgewater vs. Andersonville at a Glance
Here's the side-by-side I share with buyers. Treat it as a starting point before we tour.
| Lakefront Edgewater | Andersonville / Clark Street side | |
|---|---|---|
| Main streets | Sheridan Rd, Broadway, Bryn Mawr Ave, Hollywood Ave | N Clark St, with Foster, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr and Balmoral avenues crossing it |
| Housing types | High-rise and mid-rise condos along Sheridan Rd, vintage apartment hotels, and a well-known co-op | Vintage 2-flats, courtyard buildings, greystones and single-family homes on the side streets |
| Transit | Red Line at Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville; #147 and #151 buses on Sheridan Rd; #36 on Broadway; DuSable Lake Shore Drive ends at Hollywood Ave | #22 Clark bus through the business district; Red Line stations about half a mile east; #92 Foster and #84 Peterson buses |
| Parks and lakefront | Kathy Osterman Beach, Foster Beach at the south edge, the north end of the Lakefront Trail, Berger Park | Roughly a mile west of the lake; the main draw is the Clark Street shopping district |
| Typical buyer situation | A condo search focused on lake views, elevator access or on-site amenities, with a larger association to review | A search focused on a smaller vintage building, outdoor space, or a 2-flat with a rental unit, close to a walkable shopping street |
Lakefront Edgewater: High-Rises, Landmarks and Beaches
The Sheridan Road high-rise corridor
Sheridan Road is lined with high-rise and mid-rise buildings, a mix of condominiums and rentals. That usually means one-level living in an elevator building and, depending on the unit, lake or skyline views. Here the building matters as much as the unit.
Before you write an offer, we review the association: budget and reserves, special assessments, what the monthly assessment covers, parking, and leasing and pet rules. I also check whether the building is lendable; my guide to what makes a Chicago condo lendable explains why.
Landmark buildings on the lakefront
The lakefront also has some of the North Side's best-known historic buildings. According to its own history, the Edgewater Beach Apartments at 5555 N Sheridan Rd opened in 1928 as part of the Edgewater Beach Hotel complex designed by Benjamin Marshall. The apartments were painted "sunset pink," and the building has been an independent cooperative since 1949.
A co-op works differently than a condo: you buy shares and a proprietary lease, the board approves buyers, and fewer lenders offer share loans. I flag that early.
The Edgewater Beach Apartments is also part of the Bryn Mawr Historic District, a National Register district along Bryn Mawr Avenue between Sheridan Road and Broadway. Its landmarks include the Bryn Mawr and Belle Shore apartment hotels, a pair of late-1920s buildings across the street from each other, with the Belle Shore clad in green terra cotta.
Beaches and the Lakefront Trail
- Kathy Osterman Beach: At the northern tip of Lincoln Park between Hollywood and Ardmore avenues, also called Hollywood or Ardmore Beach. Its beach house opened in 2010.
- Foster Beach: At Foster Avenue, Edgewater's southern edge.
- Lakefront Trail: Runs from Ardmore Avenue south to 71st Street, with separate bike and pedestrian paths. The Chicago Park District posted in September 2026 that repair work will move north toward Foster Avenue over the coming months, so expect some work zones.
- Berger Park (6205 N Sheridan Rd): A historic mansion that the Park District runs as a cultural center, beside a small stretch of shoreline.
Andersonville: Clark Street and Vintage Side Streets
Andersonville's identity comes from N Clark Street. The district is known for locally owned shops and restaurants, and the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (5706 N Clark St) calls it the "Shop Local Capital of Chicago." The Swedish American Museum at 5211 N Clark St is one of the street's landmarks, and much of the strip is listed on the National Register as the Andersonville Commercial Historic District.
To try the area on before you tour, start with my top 10 Andersonville restaurants.
Andersonville homes and condos
Most housing sits on the side streets east and west of Clark: vintage 2-flats and 3-flats, brick courtyard buildings (many converted to condos), greystones and single-family homes. Buildings tend to be smaller than the lakefront towers, so associations are often smaller and more hands-on.
That changes the due diligence. With a vintage 2-flat or house, I plan inspections of the roof, masonry, porches and older mechanicals. With a small association, I look closely at reserves and how decisions get made. If you're deciding between the two property types, my post on condo vs. single-family homes in Chicago lays out the trade-offs.
Comparing specific buildings or blocks? Call or text me at 312-219-5921 and I'll pull current MLS sales for the exact properties you're considering, in lakefront Edgewater or Andersonville.
Getting Around: Red Line, Buses and the Drive
Red Line
Four Red Line stations sit inside the Edgewater community area: Berwyn (1119 W Berwyn Ave), Bryn Mawr (1116 W Bryn Mawr Ave, with a second entrance at 1119 W Hollywood Ave), Thorndale (1118 W Thorndale Ave) and Granville (1119 W Granville Ave). Argyle and Lawrence are just south, in Uptown.
The CTA's Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization project rebuilt the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations, and the new stations opened on July 20, 2025, with elevators, escalators and wider platforms. From Clark Street, the closest stations are about half a mile east, a walk, bike ride or short bus trip.
Buses
- #22 Clark: Runs through Andersonville's business district, with stops at Foster, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr and Balmoral.
- #36 Broadway: Runs along Broadway and connects at all four Edgewater Red Line stations.
- #147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express: Stops along Sheridan Road, then runs nonstop between Foster/Marine and Michigan/Delaware.
- #151 Sheridan: Also serves Sheridan Road through Edgewater.
- #92 Foster and #84 Peterson: Connect at the Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations.
Driving
DuSable Lake Shore Drive ends at Hollywood Avenue and Sheridan Road in Edgewater. Routes and service can change, so check transitchicago.com before you plan a commute around a specific stop. For more on choosing a home around transit, see my guide to top Chicago neighborhoods for transit-first living.
Which Side Fits Your Next Move?
Neither side is better; they solve different problems. I frame the choice around your situation:
- One-level living with views: Start with the Sheridan Road high-rises and plan a careful association review.
- Outdoor space or a smaller building: Look at Andersonville's vintage condos, 2-flats and houses.
- Living in one unit and renting another: The 2-flats on the side streets around Clark are the place to start.
- A daily downtown commute: Compare the Red Line with the #147 express before choosing a block.
- Considering a co-op: Budget extra time for board approval and line up financing early.
Prices swing with the building, view, parking and condition, so I don't lean on neighborhood-wide averages. Call or text me for a current, MLS-based comparison of the buildings and blocks on your list. Also looking a little farther south along the lake? See my guide to Chicago's Buena Park. When you're ready, here's how my buyer representation works.
FAQ
Is Andersonville part of Edgewater?
Mostly. Andersonville is a neighborhood, not one of Chicago's official community areas. On the City of Chicago's community-area map, the Andersonville business district along Clark Street falls inside Edgewater north of Foster Avenue. The chamber's district also reaches south to Ainslie Street, and those few blocks are in Uptown, so listings may use either name.
Which Red Line stops serve Edgewater and Andersonville?
Edgewater has four Red Line stations: Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville. Argyle and Lawrence are just south in Uptown. The CTA rebuilt Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr, and the new stations opened on July 20, 2025. Andersonville's stretch of Clark Street is about half a mile west of the line and is served by the #22 Clark bus.
What kinds of homes are in Edgewater vs. Andersonville?
Lakefront Edgewater is mostly high-rise and mid-rise condos along Sheridan Road, plus vintage apartment hotels and the Edgewater Beach Apartments co-op. The Andersonville side has vintage 2-flats, courtyard condo buildings, greystones and single-family homes on the streets around Clark. The right fit depends on the building size, outdoor space and upkeep you want.
Is the Edgewater Beach Apartments a condo or a co-op?
It's a cooperative. The building at 5555 N Sheridan Rd opened in 1928 and became an independent co-op in 1949, according to its history page. In a co-op you buy shares and a proprietary lease instead of a deeded unit, so board approval and financing work differently. Confirm current policies with the co-op and your lender.
How do home prices compare in Edgewater and Andersonville?
It depends on the property type, building, view and parking, so neighborhood-wide averages can mislead. I'd rather pull current MLS sales for the specific buildings and blocks you're considering. Call or text me at 312-219-5921, and I'll put together a side-by-side price comparison for your search.
Thinking about buying or selling in Edgewater or Andersonville? Call or text Daniel at 312-219-5921 or book a consult.
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About Daniel Ledo: Daniel Ledo is a Chicago real estate agent with The ZIP Group team at RE/MAX Premier. He helps buyers and sellers across Chicago's North Side, including Buena Park, Uptown, Edgewater, Andersonville, Lakeview and Lincoln Square. He works with homes from $500K to $3M, from vintage condos and lakefront high-rises to 2-flats and multi-unit buildings, plus select commercial properties. Call or text 312-219-5921, visit ledorealestate.com, or stop by 1207 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Brokerage: RE/MAX Premier.
Daniel Ledo Real Estate | The ZIP Group Chicago · 1207 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610 · (312) 219-5921