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North Center

North Center is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois, located in the city's North Side. North Center is bordered on the north by Montrose Avenue, on the south by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River and on the east by Ravenswood Avenue; it includes the neighborhoods of North Center, Roscoe Village, St. Ben's, and Hamlin Park. The Brown Line of the Chicago 'L' has stops within the community area at Addison and Irving Park. North Center was settled in the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century largely by Germans who worked in what is known as the industrial corridor along Ravenswood Avenue, and the large industrial plants along the Chicago River to the west. (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 23.4%
Condominium 21.7%
Building with 2-4 Units 36.2%
Building with 5+ Units 18.8%


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 1,078 1,001 984 715 515 579 526 609 851 768 809 859 812 778 693 689 973 751 541
Single Family 345 270 239 188 130 175 184 197 273 239 231 274 259 261 220 203 288 228 152
Condominium 544 546 583 408 300 305 226 257 358 334 342 412 376 372 340 370 488 373 263
Building with 2-4 Units 185 180 156 115 84 95 112 147 212 185 232 163 172 139 129 112 191 140 120
Building with 5+ Units 4 5 6 4 1 4 4 8 8 10 4 10 5 6 4 4 6 10 6


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 10.2 9.5 9.3 6.8 4.9 5.5 5.0 5.8 9.0 8.2 8.7 9.2 8.7 8.2 7.3 7.2 10.2 7.8 5.6


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 12.7% 10.8% 8.1% 10.1% 9.3% 10.9% 14.1% 14.0% 16.8% 18.5% 16.8% 18.3% 9.7% 8.4% 12.8% 6.0% 9.5% 11.3% 13.3%
Single Family 18.8% 11.9% 7.9% 10.6% 7.7% 10.9% 14.7% 13.2% 18.3% 20.9% 18.6% 11.3% 8.9% 7.7% 13.6% 4.4% 8.7% 8.3% 17.8%
Condominium 9.0% 9.0% 6.0% 6.4% 5.7% 6.6% 4.4% 4.3% 2.0% 1.2% 1.2% 12.1% 1.6% 2.7% 1.8% 1.6% 1.0% 2.7% 1.5%
Building with 2-4 Units 10.8% 12.8% 14.7% 19.1% 23.8% 21.1% 29.5% 29.3% 37.3% 43.8% 36.6% 42.3% 26.2% 20.9% 38.0% 20.5% 29.3% 32.9% 31.7%
Building with 5+ Units 75.0% 80.0% 50.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 62.5% 87.5% 70.0% 100.0% 70.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 75.0% 100.0% 100.0% 50.0%


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 0.9% 0.3% 0.5% 0.1% 0.4% 0.5% 0.2% -- 0.1% -- 0.1% 0.1% -- 0.1% 0.1% -- -- 0.5% 0.4%
Condominium 1.7% 0.5% 0.9% 0.2% 0.7% 0.7% 0.4% -- 0.3% -- 0.3% -- -- 0.3% 0.3% -- -- 0.8% 0.4%
Building with 2-4 Units 0.5% -- -- -- -- 1.1% -- -- -- -- -- 0.6% -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.8%


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 2,989 2,861 2,887 2,327 2,281 2,164 1,958 2,495 2,135 1,534 1,898 2,100 1,472 1,223 1,620 2,323 2,760 1,080 711
Single Family 1,073 920 879 819 923 926 839 1,067 864 549 732 919 574 507 706 928 1,207 412 256
Condominium 1,004 1,112 1,254 970 919 796 617 812 687 522 612 678 532 423 604 983 971 416 265
Building with 2-4 Units 883 804 728 503 428 427 482 592 556 437 535 476 345 266 301 382 554 232 176
Building with 5+ Units 29 25 26 35 11 15 20 24 28 26 19 27 21 27 9 30 28 20 14


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 28.3 27.1 27.3 22.0 21.6 20.5 18.5 23.6 22.5 16.3 20.3 22.5 15.7 13.0 17.1 24.4 28.9 11.3 7.4


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 21 38 67 100 112 127 123 83 59 28 26 24 19 27 31 12 10 20 20
Single Family 10 14 21 25 42 37 33 27 10 7 6 8 8 10 16 6 4 5 7
Condominium 3 6 18 34 23 39 45 26 19 8 11 8 4 6 6 1 3 5 6
Building with 2-4 Units 8 17 27 39 45 50 37 30 27 11 9 7 7 11 8 4 3 9 7
Building with 5+ Units -- 1 1 2 2 1 8 -- 3 2 -- 1 -- -- 1 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 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2


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 7.8%


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 6 7 15 24 36 37 29 35 28 18 20 13 7 6 4 2 1 3 5
Single Family 2 2 2 5 6 12 6 3 9 4 6 4 3 2 3 1 -- 1 3
Condominium 2 1 4 13 17 15 11 18 7 9 8 5 3 2 -- -- -- -- --
Building with 2-4 Units 2 4 9 6 13 10 12 11 10 4 6 3 1 2 1 1 1 2 2
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 2 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 83.3% 100.0% 73.3% 95.8% 88.9% 97.3% 96.6% 85.7% 82.1% 77.8% 65.0% 69.2% 100.0% 66.7% 50.0% 100.0% 100.0% 66.7% 80.0%
Single Family 100.0% 100.0% 50.0% 100.0% 83.3% 91.7% 100.0% 66.7% 88.9% 75.0% 50.0% 75.0% 100.0% 50.0% 33.3% 100.0% -- 100.0% 100.0%
Condominium 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 94.1% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 88.9% 87.5% 60.0% 100.0% 100.0% -- -- -- -- --
Building with 2-4 Units 50.0% 100.0% 66.7% 83.3% 84.6% 100.0% 91.7% 72.7% 60.0% 50.0% 50.0% 66.7% 100.0% 50.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 50.0% 50.0%
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 66.7% 100.0% 100.0% -- 100.0% -- -- -- -- -- -- --


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 35,814
Share of Population Aged under 18 26.2%
Share of Population Aged 18 to 44 45.6%
Share of Population Aged 45 to 64 20.8%
Share of Population Aged over 65 7.5%


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 73.0%
Share of Population that is African American 2.5%
Share of Population that is Hispanic or Latino 12.6%
Share of Population that is Asian 6.3%
Share of Population that is Some Other Race 5.6%


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 14,446
Share of Households with Income Less than $25,000 8.3%
Share of Households with Income $25,000 to $50,000 6.4%
Share of Households with Income $50,000 to $100,000 17.9%
Share of Households with Income $100,000 or More 67.5%


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 4.8%


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 14,446


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 58.1%


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 41.9%


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 18.5%


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 29.3%


Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened


Indicator Value
Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened 22.9%