Proof that the many neighborhoods that make up greater West Town are hot: Post real-estate crash, housing prices have revived faster here than anywhere else on the West Side. Amenities include trendy boutiques (Study Hall in groovy Ukrainian Village), top-notch restaurants (A Tavola, also in Ukie Village), and approachable cocktail havens (Bar de Ville in East Village).

Unfortunately, public schools here are not a selling point. If you’re child-free and don’t mind taking a chance on a still-emerging (some might say sketchy) neighborhood, check out Smith Park near Ukrainian Village. There you can find a cottage or fair-size condo for less than $300,000.