Chicago home types
The buildings that make up Chicago and its suburbs, what they are made of, and what that means when you renovate one.
Know the building first
These categories can overlap. A two-flat describes stacked units, a greystone describes a limestone-faced building tradition, and architectural details may belong to another named style. Each guide starts with the actual form, material and plan rather than forcing a house into one label. Facts were checked on September 30, 2026.
Chicago bungalows
Brick one-and-a-half story homes with full basements and original detail.
Two-flats and three-flats
Stacked units, shared systems and an owner who often lives upstairs.
Greystones
Limestone-fronted buildings with deep interiors and a lot of original character.
Worker's cottages
Small, narrow, often raised homes from the city's early working neighborhoods.
Courtyard buildings and vintage condos
Vintage apartment buildings around a garden court, many now condos.
Suburban homes
Ranches, split-levels and Cape Cods across the Chicago suburbs.
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