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Blue Island

Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois, located approximately 16 miles (26 km) south of Chicago's Loop. Blue Island is adjacent to the city of Chicago and shares its northern boundary with that city's Morgan Park neighborhood. The population was 23,706 at the 2010 United States Census. Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago. The late-nineteenth-century historian and publisher Alfred T. Andreas made the following observation regarding the appearance of the young community in History of Cook County Illinois (1884), "The location of Blue Island Village is a beautiful one. Nowhere about Chicago is there to be found a more pleasant and desirable resident locality."Since its founding, the city has been an important commercial center in the south Cook County region, although its position in that respect has been eclipsed in recent years as other significant population centers developed around it and the region's commercial resources became spread over a wider area. In addition to its broad long-standing industrial base, the city enjoyed notable growth in the 1840s during the construction of the feeder canal (now the Calumet Sag Channel) for the Illinois and Michigan Canal and as the center of a large brick-making industry beginning in the 1850s, which eventually gave Blue Island the status of brick-making capitol of the world. Beginning in 1883, Blue Island was also host to the car shops of the Rock Island Railroad. Blue Island was home to several breweries, who used the east side of the hill to store their product before the advent of refrigeration, until the Eighteenth Amendment made these breweries illegal in 1919. A large regional hospital and two major clinics are also located in the city. Although initially settled by "Yankee" stock, Blue Island has been the point of entry for many of America's immigrants, beginning in the 1840s with the arrival of a large German population that remained a prominent part of the city's ethnic makeup for many years. By 1850, half of Blue Island's population was either foreign-born or the children of foreign-born residents. Later, significant groups came from Italy, Poland, Sweden and Mexico. The city is one of eleven incorporated areas in Illinois to have been designated by the White House as a "Preserve America" community. (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 45.2%
Condominium 3.8%
Building with 2-4 Units 19.3%
Building with 5+ Units 31.7%


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 392 320 213 154 108 141 161 167 192 184 207 235 236 235 216 173 298 244 181
Single Family 286 230 159 103 74 107 124 115 147 133 159 179 168 162 158 134 196 156 118
Condominium 25 34 19 21 7 6 7 11 11 8 14 17 21 28 15 7 22 21 24
Building with 2-4 Units 69 45 26 24 23 26 29 36 23 33 27 27 36 32 32 25 63 50 27
Building with 5+ Units 12 11 9 6 4 2 1 5 11 10 7 12 11 13 11 7 17 17 12


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 6.7 5.5 3.7 2.6 1.9 2.4 2.8 2.9 3.3 3.2 3.6 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.7 3.0 5.2 4.2 3.1


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 7.1% 7.8% 6.6% 7.8% 20.4% 10.6% 14.9% 15.0% 19.8% 9.2% 15.9% 15.7% 17.8% 18.3% 16.7% 16.2% 19.1% 20.5% 24.9%
Single Family 5.2% 7.8% 3.1% 6.8% 14.9% 7.5% 12.1% 7.8% 13.6% 6.8% 11.9% 11.2% 14.9% 13.6% 13.3% 12.7% 9.7% 8.3% 16.9%
Condominium 8.0% -- 5.3% -- 14.3% 16.7% 28.6% -- 27.3% -- 21.4% 11.8% 19.0% 21.4% 6.7% 14.3% 13.6% 33.3% 29.2%
Building with 2-4 Units 8.7% 6.7% 7.7% -- 34.8% 15.4% 20.7% 36.1% 17.4% 15.2% 22.2% 22.2% 11.1% 9.4% 12.5% 20.0% 30.2% 28.0% 25.9%
Building with 5+ Units 41.7% 36.4% 66.7% 83.3% 50.0% 100.0% 100.0% 60.0% 100.0% 30.0% 71.4% 75.0% 81.8% 92.3% 90.9% 71.4% 94.1% 94.1% 91.7%


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 1.3% 2.2% 0.5% 0.6% 3.7% 5.7% 9.3% 9.6% 6.3% 4.3% 5.3% 2.6% 4.7% 3.0% 1.9% 2.3% 2.0% 0.4% 0.6%
Single Family 1.7% 2.6% 0.6% 1.0% 5.4% 5.6% 7.3% 8.7% 5.4% 3.0% 6.3% 1.1% 2.4% 2.5% 2.5% 2.2% 1.5% 0.6% --
Condominium -- -- -- -- -- 33.3% 71.4% 27.3% 36.4% 37.5% 7.1% 17.6% 19.0% 10.7% -- 14.3% 9.1% -- 4.2%
Building with 2-4 Units -- -- -- -- -- -- 3.4% 8.3% -- 3.0% -- 3.7% 8.3% -- -- -- 1.6% -- --
Building with 5+ Units -- 9.1% -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --


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 1,312 1,218 914 538 377 237 207 305 305 288 265 299 304 311 274 294 575 386 280
Single Family 1,020 940 730 428 299 197 172 253 248 227 213 241 234 231 209 243 440 268 208
Condominium 59 88 44 39 20 5 7 11 13 12 11 18 13 16 15 4 24 19 16
Building with 2-4 Units 212 176 121 56 48 29 21 30 30 37 35 28 38 45 37 38 92 75 40
Building with 5+ Units 21 14 19 15 10 6 7 11 14 12 6 12 19 19 13 9 19 24 16


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 22.5 20.9 15.7 9.2 6.5 4.1 3.6 5.2 5.3 5.0 4.6 5.2 5.3 5.4 4.8 5.1 10.0 6.7 4.9


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 82 88 132 186 202 252 228 227 150 99 90 72 64 75 55 24 10 57 35
Single Family 62 75 92 143 150 194 178 188 114 72 73 59 52 57 44 17 8 44 26
Condominium 6 4 15 6 17 14 18 13 11 11 7 4 6 9 9 3 1 5 4
Building with 2-4 Units 13 9 25 36 33 41 27 20 24 13 9 8 6 8 2 4 1 6 5
Building with 5+ Units 1 -- -- 1 2 3 5 6 1 3 1 1 -- 1 -- -- -- 2 --


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 1.4 1.5 2.3 3.2 3.5 4.3 3.9 3.9 2.6 1.7 1.6 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.0 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.6


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 27.5%


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 29 37 37 50 65 79 66 103 93 98 81 51 55 34 32 5 7 24 17
Single Family 24 30 30 31 47 63 41 75 74 76 65 36 42 26 22 4 4 18 11
Condominium 3 5 3 5 3 4 4 8 5 9 2 5 6 4 5 1 1 3 3
Building with 2-4 Units 2 2 4 14 14 11 20 18 10 13 12 9 7 4 4 -- 2 3 2
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- 1 1 1 2 4 -- 2 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 93.1% 97.3% 97.3% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 95.5% 99.0% 94.6% 94.9% 93.8% 82.4% 81.8% 91.2% 93.8% 80.0% 42.9% 83.3% 76.5%
Single Family 95.8% 96.7% 96.7% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 97.6% 98.7% 94.6% 94.7% 92.3% 80.6% 81.0% 92.3% 100.0% 100.0% 50.0% 88.9% 81.8%
Condominium 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 88.9% 100.0% 80.0% 83.3% 75.0% 80.0% -- 100.0% 66.7% 66.7%
Building with 2-4 Units 50.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 90.0% 100.0% 90.0% 100.0% 100.0% 88.9% 85.7% 100.0% 100.0% -- -- 66.7% 100.0%
Building with 5+ Units -- -- -- -- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 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 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.1 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.3 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2


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 22,934


Population and Age

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


Indicator Value
Share of Population Aged 18 to 44 38.9%
Share of Population Aged 45 to 64 26.4%
Share of Population Aged over 65 12.1%
Share of Population Aged under 18 22.6%


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 Hispanic or Latino 44.8%


Race and Ethnicity

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


Indicator Value
Share of Population that is White 20.4%


Race and Ethnicity

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


Indicator Value
Share of Population that is African American 33.2%
Share of Population that is Asian 0.4%
Share of Population that is Some Other Race 1.2%


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
Share of Households with Income Less than $25,000 19.7%


Household Income

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


Indicator Value
Share of Households with Income $25,000 to $50,000 25.0%
Share of Households with Income $100,000 or More 21.2%
Share of Households with Income $50,000 to $100,000 34.0%


Household Income

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


Indicator Value
Total Households 8,612


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 18.7%


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 8,612


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 48.7%


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 51.3%


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 25.0%


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 48.7%


Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened


Indicator Value
Share of All Households that are Cost-Burdened 37.0%