Survivability Rankings for Beauty Salon in Chicago

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Chicago to open a Beauty Salon, from Heart of Chicago (75% survival) to Southeast...

•12 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

  • Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
  • #1 Neighborhood: Heart of Chicago: 75% average survivability for Beauty Salon
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 43 of 99 analyzed
  • City-wide average: 73% for Beauty Salons
  • Most challenging area: Southeast Area at 67%
  • Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~7.8% more expected revenue in Heart of Chicago
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Of all the neighborhoods in and around Chicago, Heart of Chicago ranks #1 for opening a Beauty Salon with 75% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 79% and the most challenging locations in Heart of Chicago at 67%. The worst neighborhoods include Southeast Area with 67% average chance. Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median.


What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open a Beauty Salon?

Heart of Chicago ranks #1 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Chicago for Beauty Salon survivability, with a 75% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodAt a good addressAverage LocationsBest LocationsChallenging Locations
1Heart of Chicago79.1%73.0% to 78.0%78.0% to 80.0%67.0% to 69.0%
2Dunning79.1%73.0% to 77.0%78.0% to 80.0%71.0% to 73.0%
3Lake View East78.6%75.0% to 79.0%79.0% to 80.0%74.0% to 75.0%
4Wrightwood Neighbors78.2%74.0% to 79.0%77.0% to 79.0%74.0% to 76.0%
5Rogers Park78.2%74.0% to 79.0%78.0% to 80.0%73.0% to 75.0%
6South Loop78.2%74.0% to 78.0%79.0% to 80.0%72.0% to 74.0%
7Park West77.7%75.0% to 79.0%77.0% to 79.0%75.0% to 77.0%
8Uptown77.7%74.0% to 78.0%77.0% to 79.0%73.0% to 75.0%
9Near North Side77.7%74.0% to 78.0%76.0% to 78.0%71.0% to 73.0%
10North Center77.7%73.0% to 78.0%77.0% to 79.0%73.0% to 75.0%

Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median. Because local conditions evolve weekly, the live survivability tool offers a more current snapshot than any published ranking.

Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.


Where in or Around Chicago Would a Beauty Salon Make the Most Money?

In Heart of Chicago, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~7.8% more than the average location in or around Chicago.

On the other hand, in Southeast Area, the worst possible location could result in making ~18.1% less than the average location in the city.

Location is one of the few things about a new business you can measure before it opens. Opening a Beauty Salon in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across 99 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Beauty Salon is 73% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. A high-traffic corner that works well for a coffee shop may be entirely wrong for a specialty retailer.


What Should I Consider When Opening a Beauty Salon in or Around Chicago?

When selecting a location for a Beauty Salon in or around Chicago, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. No other single metric predicts business longevity as reliably as Revenue Capture Score. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. Our models are built using machine learning trained on millions of commercial real estate data points. Neighborhoods with a mix of similar businesses frequently outperform isolated locations. StreetSpring leverages exclusive data sources and custom models for these projections. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.


Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a Beauty Salon?

According to StreetSpring's data, optimal neighborhoods include Heart of Chicago, Dunning, and Lake View East, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Southeast Area, Cunningham, and McKinley Park. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.

Related Articles:


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Beauty Salon?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Beauty Salon in Chicago is Heart of Chicago with 75% average survivability, followed by Dunning and Lake View East. 43 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.


Can a Beauty Salon Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Chicago?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are Beauty Salon Rankings in Chicago Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Chicago.


Is a Beauty Salon a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?

In Heart of Chicago, StreetSpring forecasts a 73.0% to 78.0% average chance for a new Beauty Salon to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Beauty Salon in Chicago

Should you rent your storefront to a Beauty Salon? The answer depends heavily on your neighborhood. Heart of Chicago offers the strongest outlook at 73.0% to 78.0% average survivability, followed by Dunning at 73.0% to 77.0%, and Lake View East at 75.0% to 79.0%. Get a live Survivability Score for your specific storefront at no cost.

StreetSpring provides highly detailed forecasts: revealing how long hundreds of business types are likely to last at a specific address.

Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Chicago for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Chicago to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago.


Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Chicago are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for Chicago

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.