Chicago is made up of a lot of neighborhoods, and living downtown won’t mean you’re not in the heart of city life. Many of the neighborhoods are no more than 20 to 30 minutes from downtown on public transportation. The city’s numerous neighborhoods are all known for their own unique qualities, and depending on your tastes and rent ranges, you’ll be able to settle into one that fits you.

Maurice Ortiz, marketing director for apartment finding service Chicago Apartment People, said a lot of students are looking for apartments away from their downtown campuses and into neighborhoods like Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park where apartments tend to be cheaper.

By moving farther from the popular neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Lakeview, you may be adding an extra 10 to 20 minutes to your commute, but you’ll be getting more for your buck, Ortiz said.

But for any neighborhood, Ortiz suggests spending time in it after looking at an apartment.

“A lot of people want to know what the area is like at night, what the nightlife is like,” Ortiz said. “A lot of people want to know how far their apartment is going to be from transportation, from the lake, from the gym, from the library. Just hang out in the neighborhood before your really decide where you want to be.”

If going through a service such as Apartment People, Ortiz warned that students should be prepared to wait a few days to find an apartment and bring the necessary paperwork such as co-signer and loan information, along with a credit card to potentially put down a security deposit or credit check fee.

If you would rather find a place to rent on your own, The Chronicle recommends pursuing apartment listings on Craigslist.org or the Chicago Reader’s website, ChicagoReader.com

Regardless if you’re getting your own place, or just curious about the many neighborhoods of Chicago, here is a quick breakdown of the many neighborhoods of the city:

1) Old Town/Gold Coast

Not too far from Downtown and the Magnificent Mile, the Old Town/Gold Coast area is a swankier extension of the condominiums that line the lakefront north of downtown. The area is centrally located to the hot neighborhoods of Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park. Living here puts you at arm’s length to beaches, Oak Street boutique shopping and Michigan Avenue.

Rent: Studios start at $1,000

CTA: Clark/Division Red Line, No. 22 Clark, No. 29 State Street, No. 70 Division buses

Best for: Boutiques and drink specials

2) Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park, a neighborhood loaded with students and young professionals is the stomping ground of DePaul University. Lincoln Park is a bustling crossroads of bars, parks and restaurants. Halsted Street has a ton of taverns and houses two of the most popular blues bars in the nation, B.L.U.E.S. Chicago and Kingston Mines. Take a walk down Armitage Avenue to find high-end boutiques and shoe stores. North Avenue Beach is steps from your front door.

Rent: Studios start at $800

CTA: Armitage Brown Line, Fullerton Red/Brown/Purple Lines. No. 22 Clark, No. 8 Halsted, No. 74 Fullerton, No. 76 Diversey buses

Best for: Shopping, sports bars and Starbucks

3) Wrigleyville/Lakeview

Known for swarms of loud Cubs fans and a plethora of super-sized bars, Wrigleyville is the place to be if you love baseball and drinking. But, on any given Sunday afternoon, don’t be surprised to see a gaggle of UGG boot-clad women and couples pushing strollers in this family friendly neighborhood. Take a stroll down Clark Street to find countless bars, restaurants and spots to get Cubs gear, as well. Finding a cab may prove near impossible after a night at the bars or at the ballpark because at least a hundred people are trying to get one, too.

Rent: Studios range from $650 to $1,20

CTA: Belmont Red/Brown Lines and Addison Red Line, No. 22 Clark, No. 77 Belmont, No. 152 Addison and No. 9 Ashland buses

Best for: Sports bars, baseball and hot dogs

4) Uptown

If you like the idea of being close to the lake, several beaches, live music, and neighborhoods like Lakeview and Wrigleyville—but not too close ­­—this is your area. Also, there are two music venues within blocks of each other that host the likes of Tegan and Sara and Rilo Kiley, amongst others every few weeks. It’s also close to two favorite tattoo shops among Chicagoans: Deluxe Tattoo, 1459 W Irving Park Road, and The Tattoo Factory, 4441 N Broadway St.

Rent: Studios range from $575 – $1,000

CTA: Wilson and Lawrence Red Lines No. 22 Clark, No. 36 Broadway, No. 81 Lawrence No. 151 Sheridan buses

Best for: Living close to, but not in the chaos of the city

5) Ravenswood/Lincoln Square

This neighborhood lies a little off the beaten path. If you’re looking for less noise and crowds, this may be your fit. This neighborhood is a little more family-oriented than big city living downtown. The area has a lot of single family homes, but if you’re looking for restaurants and bars lining the streets, this isn’t your neighborhood. Lincoln Square features neat shops and art walks in the fall.

Rent: Studios range from $625 – $800

CTA: Rockwell, Western and Damen Brown Line, Ravensonwood Metra, station, No. 50 Damen, No. 49 Western buses

Best for: Quiet city living

6) Edgewater/Andersonville

This neighborhood is eclectic with its own historical district along Bryn Mawr Aveneue from Sheridan Road to Broadway. Although it may seem the community is heavily populated with condominiums, finding units for relatively cheap in these neighborhoods isn’t difficult. The area has been named one of the largest in Chicago for gay couples to reside. Beyond that, there are so many places to grab a quick bite, enjoy a great meal or drink, and you’re only steps away from two great beaches, Hollywood Beach and Foster Avenue Beach, and easy access to the lakefront bike path.

Rent: Studios range from $575 – $1,000

CTA: Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville Red Lines, No. 151 Sheridan, No. 147 Outer Drive Express, No. 146 Inner Drive Express, No. 84 Peterson, No. 22 Clark, No. 36 Broadway buses

Best for: Hollywood Beach

7) Rogers Park

Rogers Park is a neighborhood full of diversity. The neighborhood borders Lake Michigan and has several beaches like Touhy or Pratt Avenue beaches. Rogers Park also houses the main campus of Loyola University of Chicago and is close to the suburb of Evanston, which has a lot of the same shopping and retail stores downtown Chicago does. Rogers Park is full of coffee houses and has one of the largest communities of bloggers in the nation. Keep in mind the commute may be a little longer into downtown, especially when maintenance is being done on the Red Line.

Rent: Studios range from $550 – $900

CTA: Loyola, Morse, Jarvis and Howard Red Lines, Purple Line Evanston Express and Skokie Yellow Line at Howard. No. 147 Outider Drive Express, No. 22 Clark, No. 97 Skokie.

Best for: Coffee shop talk

(8) Pilsen

Directly west of the Loop lies this community, home to the University of Illinois at Chicago. The neighborhood is predominately latino, but as of late the area has become a place for students and artists to call home. The area is bounded by 16th Street to the north, the Chicago River to the south and Western Avenue to the west.

Rent: Studios start at $550

CTA: 18th Street, Damen and Western Pink Line

Best for: Great Mexican food

9) Ukrainian Village

Although the neighborhood is not heavily populated by students, Ukrainian Village is a prime spot for finding low rent rates. Ukrainian Village is home to the Ukrainian National Museum as well as the Ukrainian Village Festival. If you’re looking to catch a local band play, Empty Bottle hosts mostly local acts and is a very intimate atmosphere. Ultra-modern condos are sprouting up and hip restaurants line Division Street and Chicago Avenue.

Rent: One bedrooms start at $850

CTA: Chicago and Division Blue Line, No. 66 Chicago, No. 70 Division, No. 50 Damen buses.

Best for: Record shops, affordable art studios, and spotting bulldogs.

10) Wicker Park/Bucktown

Known for its artsy, bohemian scenery, hipster residents and atmosphere, this neighborhood is nestled on the city’s West Side, just across the Chicago River. The area is full of cyclists, music gurus, upscale and dive bars and restaurants catering to every taste. Milwaukee Avenue, the main drag in the neighborhood, is packed full of clothing boutiques, bakeries, record stores and novelty shops. Rides downtown on the Blue Line from the area run about 20 to 25 minutes into the downtown. The area is also accessible by many buses, some which run 24/7.

Rent: Studios range from $900 onward

CTA: Division, Damen and Western Blue Line, No. 56 Milwaukee, No. 50 Damen, No 9 Ashland, No. 70 Division, No. 72 North and No. 49 Western buses

Best for: Bars, indie music, biking

11) Logan Square

European-style architecture and tree-lined streets make up the neighborhood. The area has been home to mostly Hispanics for nearly two decades but is quickly filling up with young artists. Wicker Park is close, but rent is cheaper here. Milwaukee Avenue runs through the neighborhood and is sprinkled with bargain shops, the Logan Theater (which has $3 new movies) and mom and pop restaurants. The Farmers Market runs every Sunday through Oct. 26, and features local vendors selling food and crafts. The bar scene is few and far between in Logan Square, but when you find one, it’s usually a dive bar loaded with character and people looking for good conversation.

Rent: Studios range from $700

CTA: California, Logan Square and Belmont Blue Line, No. 56 Milwaukee, No. 74 Fullerton bus

Best for: Dive bars, Mexican food and artsy folks

12) South Loop

Often referred to as its own college town, the South Loop is located just south of downtown. Home to Columbia, the second largest owner of land in the area, many of the college’s buildings and facilities line Wabash and Michigan avenues.The college’s dorms are also located throughout the area. The Printers Row area may be most famous for the printing presses that occupied the neighborhood in the 1900s. Although close to the el, and campus, there is not much to do after 8 p.m. But tourist attractions like the Museum Campus aren’t far away.

Rent: Studios range from $1,000 upward

CTA: The Loop is the central hub for all transit lines: Red, Blue, Brown, Purple, Green, Orange; buses serve nearly every street

Best for: Convenience

13) Hyde Park

Away from Columbia’s turf about six miles south is a cute neighborhood along the lake front. Home to the Museum of Science and Industry and the University of Chicago, Hyde Park is a a little ways outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown. The neighborhood has been home to the likes of Muhammed Ali, Barack Obama and features architecturally designed homes from Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright. The area also features two big parks, Washington Park and Jackson Park.

Rent: Studios range from $600

CTA: East 63rd/Cottage Grove Green Line, Metra trains

Best for: Historical elements

Information compiled from community and neighborhood websites, students and staff.