Best-Value Neighborhoods in LA, Chicago, and NYC: 2025 Data

Across NeighborScore's nine pilot ZIP codes — spanning Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City — the relationship between composite score and home price varies widely. Zillow ZHVI data shows median home prices ranging from $185,000 to $1,240,000. NeighborScore composite scores range from 41 to 83. The best-value neighborhoods are those that deliver the highest composite score per dollar of median home price — and the results may surprise you.

The Best-Value Finding: Chicago and Hollywood Lead

The Loop, Chicago (ZIP 60601) delivers a composite score of 71/100 at a median home price of $450,000 — the best score-to-price ratio among all nine pilot ZIPs. Hollywood, Los Angeles (ZIP 90028) follows with 62/100 at $680,000. Lincoln Park, Chicago (60614) scores 83/100 at $620,000, which is exceptional quality at a price point far below comparable-scoring ZIPs in New York. By contrast, Beverly Hills (90210) at 82/100 costs $1,240,000 — equivalent scoring to Lincoln Park at twice the price.

Chicago: The Best-Value City in the Dataset

Chicago's two top ZIPs — Lincoln Park (60614) at 83/100 and The Loop (60601) at 71/100 — cost $620,000 and $450,000 respectively. DUMBO Brooklyn scores 80/100 but costs $1,050,000. Lincoln Park's school score of 88 and NCES math proficiency of 79% rival DUMBO's 84 school score (76% math) at 41% lower cost. For families seeking top-tier public schools and safe neighborhoods, Chicago's Lincoln Park delivers the best composite-score-per-dollar in the dataset.

All 9 ZIP Codes Ranked by Composite Score and Price

• Lincoln Park, Chicago (ZIP 60614) — 83/100 | Median home $620,000
• Beverly Hills, LA (ZIP 90210) — 82/100 | Median home $1,240,000
• DUMBO Brooklyn, NYC (ZIP 11201) — 80/100 | Median home $1,050,000
• Chelsea/Hudson Yards, NYC (ZIP 10001) — 76/100 | Median home $890,000
• The Loop, Chicago (ZIP 60601) — 71/100 | Median home $450,000
• Times Square/Midtown West, NYC (ZIP 10036) — 70/100 | Median home $1,100,000
• Hollywood, LA (ZIP 90028) — 62/100 | Median home $680,000
• South Central, LA (ZIP 90001) — 41/100 | Median home $480,000
• Marquette Park, Chicago (ZIP 60629) — 44/100 | Median home $185,000

What the Cross-City Data Means for Buyers

Chicago stands out as the best-value city in NeighborScore's pilot dataset. Lincoln Park (60614) offers near-equivalent composite performance to DUMBO and Beverly Hills at 40–50% lower home prices. The Loop (60601) delivers a 71/100 composite — Good range — at $450,000, the second-lowest price in the nine-ZIP dataset. New York City's ZIPs all score in the 70–80 range but cost $890,000–$1,100,000. LA's spread is the widest: Beverly Hills at 82 costs $1,240,000 while Hollywood at 62 costs $680,000.

Explore the full profiles for Lincoln Park (60614), The Loop (60601), and DUMBO Brooklyn (11201) on NeighborScore.

Bottom Line: Lincoln Park, Chicago (60614) delivers the best composite-score-per-dollar in NeighborScore's nine-ZIP dataset: 83/100 at a median home price of $620,000. The Loop (60601) at 71/100 and $450,000 is the most affordable Good-range neighborhood in the dataset. New York's ZIPs cluster at high quality and high price. Beverly Hills and Marquette Park represent the extremes of the LA dataset. For buyers seeking maximum composite quality per dollar, Chicago is the answer the data provides.