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West Ridge

West Ridge is one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is a middle-class neighborhood located on the far North Side of the City of Chicago. It is located in the 50th Ward and the 40th Ward. Also historically called North Town, and frequently referred to as West Rogers Park, it is bordered on the north by Howard Street, on the east by Ridge Boulevard, Western Avenue, and Ravenswood Avenue, the south by Bryn Mawr Avenue and Peterson Avenue, and on the west by Kedzie Avenue and the North Shore channel of the Chicago River. At one time joined with neighboring Rogers Park, it seceded to become its own village in 1890 over a conflict concerning park districts (known as the Cabbage War). West Ridge was annexed to Chicago on April 4, 1893, along with Rogers Park. Today West Ridge is one of Chicago's better off communities, filled with thriving multi-ethnic culture lining Devon Avenue, historic mansions lining Ridge and Lunt Avenues, cultural institutions such as St. Scholastica Academy and one of the highest per capita incomes on the North Side of Chicago. It had been represented in the Chicago City Council by Alderman Bernard Stone from 1973 until May 2011. On April 5, 2011, Alderman Debra Silverstein defeated Stone in a runoff election and now represents the 50th Ward, which encompasses West Ridge. It is home to the Midwest's largest Hasidic community, as well as other Jewish, Irish American, German-American, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Assyrian, Russian, and Korean immigrant communities. (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 22.5%
Condominium 26.4%
Building with 2-4 Units 22.0%
Building with 5+ Units 29.2%


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 1,377 1,388 1,144 604 601 721 716 820 912 768 714 791 817 719 719 574 929 737 606
Single Family 308 240 189 136 166 163 154 188 249 212 238 201 243 218 205 196 262 191 155
Condominium 882 986 874 393 357 472 464 531 551 441 364 449 463 389 371 292 494 408 361
Building with 2-4 Units 168 139 70 68 75 75 83 88 93 104 96 123 98 92 121 77 150 119 79
Building with 5+ Units 19 23 11 7 3 11 15 13 19 11 16 18 13 20 22 9 23 19 11


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 8.3 8.3 6.9 3.6 3.6 4.3 4.3 4.9 5.7 4.8 4.5 4.9 5.1 4.5 4.5 3.6 5.9 4.7 3.8


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 7.2% 7.1% 3.8% 7.9% 9.7% 12.1% 12.8% 14.1% 18.0% 13.4% 16.5% 17.2% 18.2% 14.0% 12.1% 8.7% 11.8% 13.0% 14.7%
Single Family 5.2% 6.3% 5.8% 8.8% 6.0% 8.0% 9.1% 10.1% 17.7% 6.6% 14.7% 13.9% 13.6% 11.0% 4.9% 7.1% 9.2% 11.5% 11.6%
Condominium 7.1% 5.7% 2.2% 5.9% 9.2% 11.9% 12.3% 14.7% 16.0% 15.0% 12.4% 16.7% 18.6% 12.9% 10.0% 5.8% 9.7% 7.4% 12.5%
Building with 2-4 Units 4.2% 7.9% 8.6% 13.2% 16.0% 13.3% 9.6% 11.4% 15.1% 14.4% 25.0% 16.3% 20.4% 12.0% 15.7% 13.0% 10.7% 21.0% 19.0%
Building with 5+ Units 68.4% 73.9% 63.6% 57.1% 100.0% 72.7% 86.7% 69.2% 94.7% 72.7% 87.5% 72.2% 76.9% 80.0% 95.5% 100.0% 95.7% 100.0% 100.0%


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 -- 0.1% -- 0.8% 0.5% 3.1% 2.2% 2.6% 1.0% 0.9% 0.6% 0.6% 0.7% 0.1% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.5% 0.2%
Condominium -- 0.2% -- 1.3% 0.8% 4.7% 3.4% 4.0% 1.5% 1.6% 0.8% 1.1% 1.1% 0.3% 0.5% -- 0.4% 1.0% 0.3%
Building with 2-4 Units -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.1% -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.3% -- -- --


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 4,377 4,407 3,624 1,914 1,657 1,415 1,243 1,573 1,481 1,020 1,243 1,438 1,280 1,098 1,176 1,598 2,178 1,067 627
Single Family 1,605 1,383 1,193 787 916 829 705 866 701 465 604 697 558 472 527 921 1,032 410 224
Condominium 1,900 2,234 1,904 821 506 375 268 443 482 340 364 432 471 385 380 428 684 407 278
Building with 2-4 Units 811 716 476 253 200 173 231 223 236 177 229 262 204 177 220 224 395 203 98
Building with 5+ Units 61 74 51 53 35 38 39 41 62 38 46 47 47 64 49 25 67 47 27


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 26.3 26.5 21.8 11.5 10.0 8.5 7.5 9.4 9.2 6.3 7.8 9.0 8.0 6.9 7.4 10.1 13.7 6.7 4.0


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 70 138 314 611 823 711 488 455 232 105 79 80 85 68 55 26 14 57 38
Single Family 21 42 69 93 139 147 126 98 74 28 27 23 35 31 26 7 4 17 12
Condominium 29 53 184 439 574 438 269 277 119 61 36 31 34 27 25 10 6 28 16
Building with 2-4 Units 19 43 58 73 105 112 84 75 36 15 15 24 13 10 3 9 4 11 9
Building with 5+ Units 1 -- 3 6 5 14 9 5 3 1 1 2 3 -- 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 0.4 0.8 1.9 3.7 4.9 4.3 2.9 2.7 1.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.4 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 23.9%


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 17 20 88 205 310 394 230 285 283 145 103 62 46 31 26 5 7 12 12
Single Family 3 3 15 30 40 33 30 41 43 27 27 17 15 9 9 -- 3 1 1
Condominium 12 11 43 138 243 327 178 223 209 106 59 29 25 15 11 5 4 10 8
Building with 2-4 Units 2 6 30 37 25 28 17 19 27 10 16 16 6 5 6 -- -- 1 3
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- 2 6 5 2 4 2 1 -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- --


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 94.1% 90.0% 97.7% 97.6% 97.7% 95.7% 95.7% 91.2% 90.1% 82.8% 79.6% 67.7% 50.0% 64.5% 69.2% 60.0% 71.4% 58.3% 66.7%
Single Family 66.7% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 84.8% 100.0% 85.4% 76.7% 85.2% 63.0% 70.6% 66.7% 33.3% 77.8% -- 100.0% -- --
Condominium 100.0% 90.9% 95.3% 98.6% 97.5% 96.9% 96.1% 92.4% 93.3% 84.0% 86.4% 65.5% 36.0% 73.3% 45.5% 60.0% 50.0% 60.0% 87.5%
Building with 2-4 Units 100.0% 83.3% 100.0% 91.9% 96.0% 96.4% 82.4% 89.5% 92.6% 70.0% 87.5% 68.8% 66.7% 100.0% 100.0% -- -- 100.0% 33.3%
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- 100.0% 83.3% 100.0% 100.0% 50.0% 50.0% -- -- -- 50.0% -- -- -- -- --


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 0.1 0.5 1.2 1.8 2.3 1.3 1.6 1.6 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 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 79,265
Share of Population Aged under 18 27.2%
Share of Population Aged 18 to 44 33.2%
Share of Population Aged 45 to 64 25.9%
Share of Population Aged over 65 13.7%


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 39.7%
Share of Population that is African American 11.5%
Share of Population that is Hispanic or Latino 22.1%
Share of Population that is Asian 20.9%
Share of Population that is Some Other Race 5.7%


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 26,516
Share of Households with Income Less than $25,000 16.7%
Share of Households with Income $25,000 to $50,000 20.7%
Share of Households with Income $50,000 to $100,000 30.1%
Share of Households with Income $100,000 or More 32.5%


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 17.0%


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 26,516


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 48.5%


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 51.5%


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 32.0%


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 50.2%


Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened


Indicator Value
Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened 41.1%