Smaller cities that are similar to Chicago?

I visited Chicago for the first time last week and I loved it. I'm graduating college next month and I'm looking to move to Northern US. I'm interested in urban cities (not as populated as Chicago) that have neighborhoods with a Bucktown/Wicker Park feel to them. Some place with little sprawl that is very walkable because I'm really sick of driving all the time. I live in Houston where you literally can't go anywhere without a car. In Chicago, you have shops, restaurants and bakeries that line the streets and everything else is within walking distance or just a short drive away. That's exactly what I'm looking for.Smaller cities that are similar to Chicago?
Although it's not North -- Kansas City, Missouri is surprisingly walkable if you live in the right neighborhood. A lot of young people live in Plaza and Westport neighborhoods. The city is pretty compact and nowhere near the size of Chicago, so you can get everywhere you need to go in a few minutes. Kansas City is funkier than people give it credit for, especially now that the downtown is starting to be revitalized.
I know what you mean about the sprawl of western and southern towns - the older northern cities, before the car developed, are so much more walkable, aren't they? You might consider Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington DC, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Those cities all are fairly walkable, at least within the downtown area.



There's not a lot of cities outside Chicago that have such *cohesive* neighborhoods all so tied together by public transportation - New York, maybe - but those all have walkable urban areas, particularly Boston, which, if you like Chicago, you might really enjoy. Boston feels like a small Chicago.Smaller cities that are similar to Chicago?
Milwaukee has a little of that flavor and downtown is fairly walkable. The East Side of Milwaukee has a little of the Soho experience, good restaurants and thing to do. It's no Chicago or NYC - but then again, nothing is.
Excellent question. My favorites in that catagory would be Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Indianapolis.



Another level smaller, you might consider: Grand Rapids, MI, Madison, WI, Rochester, MN.



Try the places rated almanac.



Good Luck!
try Pittsburgh