Which Floor Is Best in a High-Rise? A Property Manager’s Guide

Start with your daily priorities, not a “best” floor

As property manager, I would not describe one floor as universally best. The better choice is the one that supports your routine: the outlook you want, your comfort with activity outside, how often you expect to come and go, and the apartment layout that fits your household.

At Exhibit On Superior, floors 2–34 give renters a useful range to compare. Our leasing team recommends writing down your two or three non-negotiables before touring. That keeps a compelling view or a particular floor number from distracting you from the home’s practical fit.

• Prioritize the view and natural-light experience you want.
• Consider how you feel about being closer to street activity.
• Think through elevator use during your normal departure and arrival times.
• Compare the actual apartment layout alongside the floor.

Lower floors can suit a convenience-first routine

For renters who want a shorter path between their home, the lobby, on-site retail, and the surrounding neighborhood, lower-floor options may be worth close consideration. We encourage prospective residents to visit the apartment and common routes in person, because each person’s sense of convenience is different.

Sound is also a personal consideration rather than a floor-number rule. Our leasing team recommends listening inside the specific home during a tour and asking about the experiences that matter to you, such as working from home, sleeping during the day, or keeping a pet settled.

• Tour with the windows positioned as you would use them.
• Stand quietly in the bedroom and living area before deciding.
• Consider whether nearby access matters more to you than a longer sight line.

Middle floors often make comparison easier

Middle-floor homes can be a practical comparison point when you are unsure where you land between access and outlook. Rather than treating this band as a default answer, we suggest touring a lower, middle, and upper-floor option when available. Seeing the differences directly is more useful than relying on assumptions about a high-rise.

Bring the floor plan into the decision. Exhibit offers studio, convertible, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and the right layout may matter more than the floor. You can review distinct layouts, square footage, floor ranges, balconies, and live availability on our floor-plan page.

• Compare the same layout on more than one floor when possible.
• Check where you would place a desk, bed, dining table, or pet supplies.
• Ask our leasing team to help identify homes that match both your layout and floor preferences.

Upper floors are worth touring for the outlook

If a broader city outlook is high on your list, include upper-floor homes in your tour. We recommend spending time at the windows in the actual residence, looking in the directions that matter to you and considering how the apartment feels for your everyday use—not only during a quick walkthrough.

Elevator timing should be part of that visit. We suggest entering and leaving the building around a time similar to your usual schedule, then deciding whether the routine feels comfortable for you. Your own habits, including deliveries, guests, pets, and work travel, shape that answer.

• View the home at a time that reflects your typical routine when possible.
• Consider your comfort with elevator trips for daily errands and guests.
• Evaluate the residence itself, not just the height of the floor.

Use live availability for the pricing decision

We do not recommend assuming that rent moves in one direction by floor. Availability, apartment type, layout, and move-in timing all matter, so the appropriate way to compare homes is through current listings. Our available-apartments page shows live pricing, photos, and move-in dates for studio through three-bedroom residences.

When you narrow your choices, ask our leasing team to compare the currently available homes that meet your floor preferences. We can help you weigh the apartment, floor, and timing together without making a per-floor pricing assumption.

Also review the costs that apply to the home you choose. The monthly Utility & Service Amenity fee is based on floor-plan type and covers water, sewer, trash, heat, air conditioning, and natural gas for cooking and the clothes dryer. Electricity is billed directly to the resident by ComEd.

• Compare live listings on the same day when possible.
• Review the floor plan and move-in date with the listed price.
• Confirm applicable monthly and one-time charges with our leasing team before applying.