The city center is at State Madison. Everything increases and decreases from there, north, south east and west. Logan square would be northwest and can be a very dangerous place in certain sections. You should get guidance from either a realtor (if you ll be buying a house) or an apartment locator for help in picking out a neighborhood. Most newcomers live in the near north, Lincon Park or Lakeview neighborhoods.
The west side is basically everything west of western, north of the Eisenhower expressway, and south of diversey, south side is everything south of roosevelt. and the northside is everything else. Since Chicago has a lake to the east, the east side is almost never talked about but it s everything east of stony island. But the west side is disputed confusing and confusing, the lower west side http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_West_�� is often called the south side and sometimes called the west side, Lawndale is usually considered the west side but has streets south of roosevelt. Well I just remembered, here s a map that makes it a lot easier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicag��But I ve never heard anyone say central it s downtown or the loop.
the west side is low income.the southside is low income.the northside is sexually confused and yuppified. and crowded,the east side is so hidden, no one knows.
Below is a site with all Chicago neighborhoods listed on 5 maps. Some people consider some of the near south ones as west side but you ll find what you want on maps:http://www.dreamtown.com/maps/chicago-ne��