Chicago Median Incomes Report
Chicago Median Incomes Report
Chicago Median Incomes Report
James Lewis
Rob Paral
Background
The following report provides analysis and context for newly computed median incomes of
Chicagos 77 community areas, developed from new American Community Survey data
covering the years 2010 through 2014.1 The Census Bureaus American Community Survey
provides the most up-to-date income data available for small local areas by combining the most
recent Census survey data with similar data from the previous four years to create rolling
average figures.
Citywide Trends
New data on Chicago median incomes for the 2010-2014 period shows a small decline in real
household income from $48,044 to $47,831 from the 2009-2013 5-year period.
Chicagos median household income is about 13% lower than it was fifteen years ago in 1999.
Scanning the past 45 years, Chicagos real median household income was in the upper $40,000s
from 1969 through 1989 before rising to nearly $55,000 in the 1990s. Since then, median
income has retreated to around $48,000 reported for the periods ending in 2012, 2013 and
2014.
Median Household Income in Chicago
1969
1979
1989
1999
2008200920102012
2013
2014
$48,321 $46,559 $48,502 $54,899 $48,884 $48,044 $47,831
Source: U.S. Census Bureau; all dollar amounts adjusted for inflation to 2014 dollars.
American Community Survey data is reported for census tracts. Jim Lewis aggregated tract-level data and
calculated a median income amount for each of Chicagos 77 community areas.
Median
Household
Income 1989
Median
Household
Income 1999
Median
Household
Income 20102014
%
Change
1989 to
1999
%
Change
1999 to
20102014
45. Avalon Park
$63,847
$63,028
$44,574
-1.3% -29.3%
46. South Chicago
$42,120
$40,194
$29,452
-4.6% -26.7%
48. Calumet Heights
$70,513
$65,845
$52,393
-6.6% -20.4%
50. Pullman
$46,864
$44,013
$38,175
-6.1% -13.3%
51. South Deering
$52,618
$49,447
$33,496
-6.0% -32.3%
53. West Pullman
$58,457
$57,533
$34,031
-1.6% -40.8%
57. Archer Heights
$58,462
$56,045
$42,055
-4.1% -25.0%
63. Gage Park
$54,899
$51,826
$37,773
-5.6% -27.1%
67. West Englewood
$40,777
$37,940
$26,858
-7.0% -29.2%
71. Auburn Gresham
$50,800
$48,664
$29,999
-4.2% -38.4%
73. Washington Heights
$62,759
$61,403
$40,553
-2.2% -34.0%
76. O'Hare
$65,647
$61,888
$43,259
-5.7% -30.1%
Source: Rob Paral and Associates based on U.S. Census Bureau data; all dollar amounts adjusted for
inflation to 2014 dollars.
Median
Household
Income 1989
Median
Household
Income 1999
Median
Household
Income 20102014
%
Change
1989 to
1999
%
Change
1999 to
20102014
01.
02.
03.
06.
07.
09.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
23.
25.
26.
27.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Rogers Park
West Ridge
Uptown
Lake View
Lincoln Park
Edison Park
Norwood Park
Jefferson Park
Forest Glen
North Park
Albany Park
Portage Park
Irving Park
Dunning
Montclare
Belmont Cragin
Hermosa
Avondale
Humboldt Park
Austin
West Garfield Park
East Garfield Park
North Lawndale
South Lawndale
Lower West Side
Loop
Median
Household
Income 1989
Median
Household
Income 1999
$44,078
$57,920
$36,349
$58,774
$75,638
$75,677
$72,409
$65,359
$94,465
$64,531
$50,317
$59,399
$53,140
$65,510
$61,099
$55,139
$49,304
$49,273
$36,952
$45,876
$27,850
$22,281
$23,181
$41,050
$37,935
$89,128
$44,917
$58,479
$45,949
$76,583
$97,522
$81,134
$75,902
$70,555
$97,033
$69,941
$57,864
$64,126
$59,749
$70,167
$66,285
$61,343
$54,237
$52,130
$40,832
$47,846
$32,863
$34,419
$26,070
$45,937
$39,460
$92,569
Median
%
%
Household Change Change
Income 2010- 1989 to 1999 to
2014
1999
20102014
$37,779
$47,941
$44,229
$75,730
$87,694
$79,342
$70,578
$62,021
$84,347
$52,283
$52,666
$54,773
$48,758
$60,945
$41,387
$43,103
$37,327
$44,388
$32,303
$31,289
$25,362
$22,103
$23,107
$31,229
$35,103
$88,756
1.9%
1.0%
26.4%
30.3%
28.9%
7.2%
4.8%
7.9%
2.7%
8.4%
15.0%
8.0%
12.4%
7.1%
8.5%
11.3%
10.0%
5.8%
10.5%
4.3%
18.0%
54.5%
12.5%
11.9%
4.0%
3.9%
-15.9%
-18.0%
-3.7%
-1.1%
-10.1%
-2.2%
-7.0%
-12.1%
-13.1%
-25.2%
-9.0%
-14.6%
-18.4%
-13.1%
-37.6%
-29.7%
-31.2%
-14.9%
-20.9%
-34.6%
-22.8%
-35.8%
-11.4%
-32.0%
-11.0%
-4.1%
$24,925
$23,961
$15,325
$42,061
$51,067
$37,056
$44,274
$47,847
$52,744
$50,916
$11,804
$57,726
$60,592
$47,573
$49,081
$46,208
$36,224
$57,016
$62,231
$64,328
$47,499
$24,422
$34,170
$32,344
$35,299
$26,170
$52,038
$51,155
$39,439
$45,967
$49,448
$54,347
$56,461
$18,730
$62,062
$64,580
$51,516
$51,182
$50,507
$36,453
$64,401
$64,718
$66,827
$51,144
$26,941
$39,678
$23,590
$32,389
$16,569
$39,593
$48,643
$26,865
$33,849
$25,430
$37,957
$43,629
$14,579
$49,907
$61,669
$35,667
$42,371
$41,707
$30,716
$44,876
$60,222
$48,793
$32,601
$18,744
$25,950
29.8%
47.3%
70.8%
23.7%
0.2%
6.4%
3.8%
3.3%
3.0%
10.9%
58.7%
7.5%
6.6%
8.3%
4.3%
9.3%
0.6%
13.0%
4.0%
3.9%
7.7%
10.3%
16.1%
-27.1%
-8.2%
-36.7%
-23.9%
-4.9%
-31.9%
-26.4%
-48.6%
-30.2%
-22.7%
-22.2%
-19.6%
-4.5%
-30.8%
-17.2%
-17.4%
-15.7%
-30.3%
-6.9%
-27.0%
-36.3%
-30.4%
-34.6%
$72,269
$90,203
$66,993
$46,180
$76,230
$94,978
$75,520
$50,835
$65,200
$91,239
$61,223
$44,429
5.5%
5.3%
12.7%
10.1%
-14.5%
-3.9%
-18.9%
-12.6%
Source: Rob Paral and Associates based on U.S. Census Bureau data; all dollar amounts adjusted for inflation to 2014 dollars.
37.
68.
27.
47.
69.
43.
71.
Community Area
Fuller Park
Englewood
East Garfield Park
Burnside
Greater Grand Crossing
South Shore
Auburn Gresham
Median
Household
income
1999
$26,170
$26,941
$34,419
$49,448
$39,678
$39,439
$48,664
Median
Household
income
2010-2014
$16,569
$18,744
$22,103
$25,430
$25,950
$26,865
$29,999
1999 to
2010-2014
# Change
-$9,600
-$8,198
-$12,316
-$24,018
-$13,728
-$12,574
-$18,665
1999 to
2010-2014
% Change
-36.7%
-30.4%
-35.8%
-48.6%
-34.6%
-31.9%
-38.4%
Source: Rob Paral and Associates based on U.S. Census Bureau data; all dollar amounts adjusted for inflation to 2014 dollars.
Community Areas with Household Income $30,000-$45,000, with Greater than 30% Decline since 1999
Community Area
Median HH Iincome
Median HH income
1999 to 2010-14 1999 to 2010-2014
1999
2010-14
# Change
% Change
30.
18.
20.
25.
49.
51.
53.
58.
62.
66.
73.
76.
South Lawndale
Montclare
Hermosa
Austin
Roseland
South Deering
West Pullman
Brighton Park
West Elsdon
Chicago Lawn
Washington Heights
O'Hare
$45,937
$66,285
$54,237
$47,846
$54,347
$49,447
$57,533
$51,516
$64,401
$51,144
$61,403
$61,888
$31,229
$41,387
$37,327
$31,289
$37,957
$33,496
$34,031
$35,667
$44,876
$32,601
$40,553
$43,259
-$14,708
-$24,899
-$16,910
-$16,558
-$16,390
-$15,951
-$23,501
-$15,849
-$19,525
-$18,543
-$20,850
-$18,628
-32.0%
-37.6%
-31.2%
-34.6%
-30.2%
-32.3%
-40.8%
-30.8%
-30.3%
-36.3%
-34.0%
-30.1%
Source: Rob Paral and Associates based on U.S. Census Bureau data; all dollar amounts adjusted for inflation to 2014 dollars.
Acknowledgements
Sam Tomko-Jones and Claudia Chi assisted with data preparation of this report.
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010-14
$48,252
$42,308
$44,078
$44,917
$37,779
$69,354
$62,327
$57,920
$58,479
$47,941
03. Uptown
$34,049
$32,784
$36,349
$45,949
$44,229
$52,570
$47,974
$48,581
$58,130
$62,076
$49,823
$47,721
$53,371
$73,565
$90,279
$44,837
$48,351
$58,774
$76,583
$75,730
$42,216
$55,143
$75,638
$97,522
$87,694
$46,522
$56,600
$71,338
$82,169
$82,169
$69,240
$71,203
$75,677
$81,134
$79,342
$72,975
$72,283
$72,409
$75,902
$70,578
$64,020
$63,456
$65,359
$70,555
$62,021
$88,086
$85,830
$94,465
$97,033
$84,347
$70,622
$66,405
$64,531
$69,941
$52,283
$53,358
$50,271
$50,317
$57,864
$52,666
$59,611
$57,002
$59,399
$64,126
$54,773
$53,860
$50,572
$53,140
$59,749
$48,758
17. Dunning
$65,185
$63,842
$65,510
$70,167
$60,945
18. Montclare
$61,051
$59,981
$61,099
$66,285
$41,387
$56,368
$55,554
$55,139
$61,343
$43,103
20. Hermosa
$53,546
$49,940
$49,304
$54,237
$37,327
21. Avondale
$50,457
$46,574
$49,273
$52,130
$44,388
$47,230
$39,685
$41,647
$51,516
$56,115
$47,436
$37,193
$36,952
$40,832
$32,303
$37,984
$33,380
$35,473
$55,311
$69,962
25. Austin
$52,119
$44,109
$45,876
$47,846
$31,289
$38,538
$29,376
$27,850
$32,863
$25,362
$30,205
$24,279
$22,281
$34,419
$22,103
$27,293
$18,498
$17,217
$42,054
$70,307
$36,333
$27,675
$23,181
$26,070
$23,107
$44,414
$45,205
$41,050
$45,937
$31,229
$42,136
$37,832
$37,935
$39,460
$35,103
32. Loop
$49,200
$35,577
$89,128
$92,569
$88,756
$22,650
$18,513
$12,547
$48,793
$74,175
$33,929
$31,262
$24,925
$32,344
$23,590
35. Douglas
$33,038
$26,391
$23,961
$35,299
$32,389
36. Oakland
$21,171
$14,271
$9,346
$15,264
$24,815
$33,489
$23,619
$15,325
$26,170
$16,569
$24,329
$16,508
$13,178
$20,152
$30,347
39. Kenwood
$35,408
$37,169
$42,061
$52,038
$39,593
$29,035
$20,056
$15,496
$21,547
$22,059
$47,447
$46,096
$51,067
$51,155
$48,643
42. Woodlawn
$31,559
$22,901
$25,227
$25,962
$26,452
$47,773
$41,523
$37,056
$39,439
$26,865
44. Chatham
$53,129
$47,502
$44,274
$45,967
$33,849
$65,688
$64,734
$63,847
$63,028
$44,574
$49,503
$53,080
$42,120
$40,194
$29,452
47. Burnside
$51,239
$60,647
$47,847
$49,448
$25,430
$72,067
$75,436
$70,513
$65,845
$52,393
49. Roseland
$56,790
$56,415
$52,744
$54,347
$37,957
50. Pullman
$53,489
$57,638
$46,864
$44,013
$38,175
$60,120
$59,917
$52,618
$49,447
$33,496
$61,764
$65,863
$50,916
$56,461
$43,629
$60,422
$61,125
$58,457
$57,533
$34,031
55. Hegewisch
$61,313
$66,499
$57,726
$62,062
$49,907
$68,543
$67,552
$60,592
$64,580
$61,669
$62,850
$59,920
$58,462
$56,045
$42,055
$52,141
$48,141
$47,573
$51,516
$35,667
$53,010
$49,051
$49,081
$51,182
$42,371
60. Bridgeport
$48,492
$44,526
$46,208
$50,507
$41,707
$47,950
$38,991
$36,224
$36,453
$30,716
$65,517
$61,913
$57,016
$64,401
$44,876
$57,338
$55,155
$54,899
$51,826
$37,773
64. Clearing
$67,139
$66,961
$62,231
$64,718
$60,222
$65,682
$67,451
$64,328
$66,827
$48,793
$55,003
$52,018
$47,499
$51,144
$32,601
$49,189
$40,312
$40,777
$37,940
$26,858
68. Englewood
$37,333
$27,885
$24,422
$26,941
$18,744
$43,244
$36,247
$34,170
$39,678
$25,950
70. Ashburn
$76,864
$77,870
$72,269
$76,230
$65,200
$55,277
$56,579
$50,800
$48,664
$29,999
72. Beverly
$79,754
$78,597
$90,203
$94,978
$91,239
$64,814
$66,070
$62,759
$61,403
$40,553
$70,776
$66,931
$74,181
$81,717
$87,851
$65,888
$64,597
$66,993
$75,520
$61,223
$0
$64,341
$65,647
$61,888
$43,259
76. O'Hare
77. Edgewater
$49,269
$42,059
$46,180
$50,835
$44,429
CHICAGO
$48,321
$46,559
$48,502
$54,899
$47,831