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Lincoln Square

Lincoln Square, located on the North Side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. It encompasses the smaller neighborhoods of Ravenswood Gardens, Bowmanville, Budlong Woods as well as the eponymous Lincoln Square neighborhood. Although it is sometimes known by these other names the City of Chicago officially designated it as Lincoln Square in 1925. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, the conflation of Ravenswood and Lincoln Square is a common mistake — the two are not interchangeable. The boundaries of the original Ravenswood subdivision, drawn in 1869, were Montrose, Lawrence, Clark and Damen. In the 1920s, the University of Chicago divided the City into community areas, one of which was Lincoln Square, which included the existing Ravenswood subdivision. (Source: Wikipedia)

Housing stock map

See the share of the area's total housing units that are in single family homes, condominiums, two-to-four unit buildings, buildings with five to 49 units, and buildings with 50 units or more.


The Composition of Cook County’s Housing Market >

Housing market indicators

All of these property level data sets are connected to parcel-level data files from the county Assessors offices that include data on every parcel in the Chicago metropolitan area. All of these parcel-level data sets include historical data and are updated on a regular basis ranging from every week to every year depending on the data set.

Housing Stock Composition

The composition of a neighborhood's housing stock determines the appropriate targeted strategies for stabilizing local housing markets.

Housing Units by Property Type

The composition of a neighborhood's housing stock determines the appropriate targeted strategies for stabilizing local housing markets.


Property Type 2023
Single Family 12.6%
Condominium 22.4%
Building with 2-4 Units 23.2%
Building with 5+ Units 41.8%


Property Sales Activity

This indicator provides information on how active local residential property markets are, what types of properties are being purchased, who is buying them, and how much buyers are paying for properties.

Total Sales Activity

This is the total number of property sales in a given year. In Cook County, data are broken out separately for total sales activity on single family homes, condominium units, two-to-four unit buildings, and in buildings with five or more units. Outside of Cook County, data are for all residential parcels.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 857 876 860 611 416 410 424 493 593 536 594 606 734 636 540 499 779 622 418
Single Family 150 121 109 89 97 75 89 110 134 120 149 142 164 159 135 111 157 139 91
Condominium 558 624 668 451 271 272 257 281 335 291 314 348 442 370 331 310 466 362 237
Building with 2-4 Units 135 119 72 55 41 54 66 83 100 97 118 100 114 95 67 62 140 108 77
Building with 5+ Units 14 12 11 16 7 9 12 19 24 28 13 16 14 12 7 16 16 13 13


Sales per 100 Residential Parcels

This indicator allows users to compare the level of property sales activity across geographies. This data point represents the total number of sales on all residential parcels divided by the total number of residential parcels in a given year, multiplied by 100.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 8.4 8.6 8.4 6.0 4.1 4.0 4.2 4.8 6.2 5.7 6.3 6.5 7.8 6.8 5.7 5.3 8.3 6.6 4.4


Share of Sales, Business Buyers

This represents a range of investor types from small mom-and-pop investors to large Wall Street-traded equity funds. Heightened levels of single family homes purchased by business buyers is often indicative of a distressed and low priced inventory of homes, and low demand for owner-occupied housing in a neighborhood. In Cook County, this data point is available as the share of total sales activity where the buyer was a business entity by property type (single family homes, condominium units, two-to-four unit buildings, and in buildings with five or more units). Outside of Cook County, data are for all residential parcels.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 11.1% 7.6% 4.7% 4.3% 5.5% 9.0% 13.4% 15.4% 15.7% 15.3% 13.0% 10.9% 17.6% 11.9% 8.7% 6.2% 9.9% 9.5% 8.4%
Single Family 18.0% 7.4% 9.2% 10.1% 6.2% 8.0% 9.0% 15.5% 14.2% 14.2% 14.1% 12.0% 12.2% 10.1% 8.9% 8.1% 15.9% 6.5% 8.8%
Condominium 7.0% 5.6% 1.9% 0.7% 1.8% 5.9% 8.9% 6.4% 7.2% 2.4% 4.5% 2.9% 15.2% 7.8% 4.5% 1.3% 1.5% 3.0% 3.8%
Building with 2-4 Units 15.6% 10.9% 9.7% 5.5% 17.1% 11.1% 21.2% 27.7% 28.0% 37.1% 25.4% 25.0% 26.3% 22.1% 23.9% 17.7% 23.6% 25.0% 13.0%
Building with 5+ Units 57.1% 83.3% 90.9% 68.8% 71.4% 100.0% 100.0% 94.7% 91.7% 78.6% 92.3% 87.5% 85.7% 83.3% 57.1% 43.8% 75.0% 92.3% 61.5%


Share of Sales, Extremely Low Value

This represents the percent of sales that were purchased for less than $20,000 in a given year. In Cook County, this data point is available as the share of total sales activity that sold for less than $20,000 by property type (single family homes, condominium units, two-to-four unit buildings, and in buildings with five or more units). Outside of Cook County, data are for all residential parcels.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 0.7% 0.9% 0.3% -- 1.4% 2.4% 2.6% 0.6% 0.8% -- -- 0.5% 0.4% 0.2% -- 0.4% 0.1% 0.3% 0.7%
Single Family -- -- -- -- -- 1.3% -- -- -- -- -- 1.4% 1.2% 0.6% -- -- -- 0.7% --
Condominium 0.9% 1.3% 0.4% -- 2.2% 3.3% 4.3% 0.7% 1.2% -- -- 0.3% 0.2% -- -- 0.6% 0.2% 0.3% 0.8%
Building with 2-4 Units 0.7% -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.3%
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5.3% 4.2% -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --


Mortgage Activity

These data measure the flow of mortgage credit into an area and indicates the level of lender investment. The level of mortgage activity in a neighborhood relative to other areas can assess how access to credit has changed over time in a community and how the flow of credit differs across geographies and for different property types.

Total Mortgage Activity

This is the total number of mortgages in a given year. In Cook County, data are broken out separately for total mortgage activity on single family homes, condominium units, two-to-four unit buildings, and in buildings with five or more units. Outside of Cook County, data are for all residential parcels.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 2,470 2,559 2,386 1,711 1,538 1,408 1,214 1,648 1,418 1,010 1,217 1,390 1,133 931 1,122 1,578 1,987 834 463
Single Family 648 578 524 431 529 450 422 559 429 283 394 479 341 294 405 546 611 247 135
Condominium 1,189 1,381 1,361 960 741 642 496 695 614 445 508 575 483 403 489 736 939 378 216
Building with 2-4 Units 573 557 438 259 233 279 248 332 308 222 274 283 253 192 199 252 373 172 89
Building with 5+ Units 60 43 63 61 35 37 48 62 67 60 41 53 56 42 29 44 64 37 23


Mortgages per 100 Residential Parcels

This indicator allows users to compare the level of mortgage activity across geographies. This data point represents the total number of mortgage liens on all residential parcels divided by the total number of residential parcels in a given year, multiplied by 100.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 24.2 25.1 23.4 16.8 15.1 13.8 11.9 16.2 14.9 10.7 13.0 14.8 12.1 9.9 11.9 16.7 21.1 8.8 4.8


Foreclosure Filing Activity

This is an indicator of distress in a local housing market and viewing changing levels of activity allows for an understanding of the evolving nature of the foreclosure crisis in a neighborhood.

Total Foreclosure Filings Activity

This is the total number of new foreclosure filings in a given year. In Cook County, data are broken out separately for foreclosure filing activity on single family homes, condominium units, two-to-four unit buildings, and in buildings with five or more units. Outside of Cook County, data are for all residential parcels.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 29 42 80 189 235 206 164 155 68 37 34 36 25 21 22 6 5 19 9
Single Family 12 13 23 25 44 48 27 28 17 10 4 11 6 4 11 2 1 6 --
Condominium 8 16 37 135 134 121 93 88 37 22 20 19 14 13 5 2 3 8 5
Building with 2-4 Units 7 13 17 24 52 34 40 37 14 5 10 6 4 4 6 2 1 5 3
Building with 5+ Units 2 -- 3 5 5 3 4 2 -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- 1


Foreclosure Filings per 100 Residential Parcels

This indicator allows users to compare the level of foreclosure filing activity across geographies. This data point represents the total number of foreclosure filings on all residential parcels divided by the total number of residential parcels in a given year, multiplied by 100.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.9 2.3 2.0 1.6 1.5 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1


Cumulative Foreclosure Filings Activity

Annual levels of foreclosure filing activity likely do not convey the impact that foreclosure has had in a particular community, as geographies vary in density and size, and the drivers behind the Great Recession foreclosure crisis led to very different annual patterns of foreclosure filing activity across the region. This indicator represents the cumulative impact of foreclosure in a neighborhood measured as the unique share of residential properties that have had at least one foreclosure filing since 2005.


Property Type 2023
All Residential Properties 12.4%


Foreclosure Auctions

These are properties that have completed the foreclosure process. Understanding foreclosure auction activity helps determine the flow of year-over-year of REO (real estate owned) properties into a market, how third-party demand at auctions differs based on property types, and the density of REO activity across geographies. The level of completed foreclosure auctions activity in a neighborhood indicates distress in a local housing market.

Total Auction Activity

This is the total number of completed foreclosure auctions in a given year. In Cook County, data are broken out separately for total auction activity on single family homes, condominium units, two-to-four unit buildings, and in buildings with five or more units. Outside of Cook County, data are for all residential parcels.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties 2 4 12 39 85 105 55 73 98 48 31 22 16 10 8 -- 2 3 5
Single Family 1 -- 6 10 6 9 11 12 10 11 7 4 2 1 2 -- 2 -- --
Condominium 1 3 4 20 71 86 38 49 70 25 11 14 10 9 4 -- -- 1 4
Building with 2-4 Units -- 1 2 7 8 9 5 12 17 11 12 4 4 -- 2 -- -- 2 1
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- 2 -- 1 1 -- 1 1 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --


Share of Auctions Resulting in REO

This is the percent of completed foreclosure auctions in a given geography where there were no bidders and the property became bank-owned REO (real estate owned).


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties -- 100.0% 91.7% 100.0% 98.8% 99.0% 90.9% 84.9% 88.8% 85.4% 58.1% 77.3% 50.0% 30.0% 62.5% -- 100.0% 100.0% 60.0%
Single Family -- -- 83.3% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 83.3% 90.0% 81.8% 57.1% 75.0% 100.0% -- 100.0% -- 100.0% -- --
Condominium -- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 92.1% 89.8% 91.4% 96.0% 90.9% 71.4% 30.0% 33.3% 50.0% -- -- 100.0% 75.0%
Building with 2-4 Units -- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 87.5% 88.9% 60.0% 66.7% 82.4% 72.7% 33.3% 100.0% 75.0% -- 50.0% -- -- 100.0% --
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- 100.0% -- 100.0% 100.0% -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --


REO per 100 Residential Parcels

This indicator allows users to compare the level of REO activity across geographies. This data point represents the total number of auctions resulting in REO status on all residential parcels divided by the total number of residential parcels in a given year, multiplied by 100.


Property Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
All Residential Properties -- -- 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 -- 0.1 -- -- -- --


Population and Age

Reflects the composition of a community's population by age.

Population and Age

Reflects the composition of a community's population by age.


Indicator Value
Total Population 42,271
Share of Population Aged under 18 16.9%
Share of Population Aged 18 to 44 50.9%
Share of Population Aged 45 to 64 22.2%
Share of Population Aged over 65 10.0%


Race and Ethnicity

The composition of a community's population by respondent race and ethnicity.

Race and Ethnicity

The composition of a community's population by respondent race and ethnicity.


Indicator Value
Share of Population that is White 61.1%
Share of Population that is African American 3.6%
Share of Population that is Hispanic or Latino 19.7%
Share of Population that is Asian 10.3%
Share of Population that is Some Other Race 5.2%


Household Income

Represents the composition of households by income in a particular geography.

Household Income

Represents the composition of households by income in a particular geography.


Indicator Value
Total Households 19,368
Share of Households with Income Less than $25,000 10.5%
Share of Households with Income $25,000 to $50,000 15.2%
Share of Households with Income $50,000 to $100,000 29.1%
Share of Households with Income $100,000 or More 45.2%


Poverty Rate

Reflects the share of the population that is below a current poverty threshold.

Share of Population that is under the Poverty Level


Indicator Value
Share of Population that is under the Poverty Level 9.2%


Resident Tenure

The composition of households by tenure indicates the share of households that rent versus the share of households that own.

Total Households

Represents the composition of households by tenure.


Indicator Value
Total Households 19,368


Share of Households that are Owner-Occupied

The composition of households by tenure indicates the share of households that rent versus the share of households that own.


Indicator Value
Share of Households that are Owner-Occupied 39.9%


Share of Households that are Renter-Occupied

The composition of households by tenure indicates the share of households that rent versus the share of households that own.


Indicator Value
Share of Households that are Renter-Occupied 60.1%


Cost Burdened Households

A household is considered to be cost-burdened when more than 30 percent of its income is spent on mortgage, rent, or other housing needs.

Share of Owner-Occupied Households that are Cost-Burdened


Indicator Value
Share of Owner-Occupied Households that are Cost-Burdened 22.2%


Share of Renter-Occupied Households that are Cost-Burdened

A household is considered to be cost-burdened when more than 30 percent of its income is spent on mortgage, rent, or other housing needs.


Indicator Value
Share of Renter-Occupied Households that are Cost-Burdened 42.9%


Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened


Indicator Value
Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened 34.5%