The el does not get you close enough to the U of C to be a realistic daily option. You can transfer to a bus at 55th Street, but the transfer point is adjacent to the partly-demolished Robert Taylor housing project. The el tracks used to shade 63d Street almost to the lake, but this spur was demolished and the tracks now terminate at Cottage Grove.

The Metra Electric & South Shore services along the IC tracks are another option. By the way, that is not exactly a close walk to much of the University either. Hegewisch or one of the towns in Indiana, perhaps?

Hyde Park is isolated IMHO. It used to have more retail, but it is losing its village "feel." I prefer the part east of the tracks (again, a hike to the hospitals). Kenwood is gorgeous, but more expensive, and there is even less of a village there.

There are some less expensive neighborhoods west of the ghetto. Largely bungalow housing; not sure how village-like they are. Neighbohoods near the 55/ Garfield bus around 55th and Kedzie or Pulaski could work.