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Below the Poverty Line by Ward — Chicago

Map and ranking of Below the Poverty Line across Chicago's 50 wards. Highest: Ward 20 (34.8%). Lowest: Ward 32 (6.1%). Chicago avg: 16.8%. Data: 2020–2024.

All 2 Household Income & Poverty tables

Metric

Below the Poverty Line · all 50 Chicago wards · 2020–24

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Year

2020–2024 5-year ACS estimate.

Citywide overview

All wards

Chicago citywide · Below the Poverty Line 16.8%

Highest ward Ward 20: 34.8%

Lowest ward Ward 32: 6.1%

Below the Poverty Line

Avg 17%

6%20%35%

Highest ward Ward 20

34.8%

Chicago avg

16.8%

Lowest ward Ward 32

6.1%

Note: Poverty status compares a family's pre-tax cash income with the Census poverty threshold for its family size. For example, in 2024 the threshold for a one-person family was $15,060. See more details on how poverty is defined and measured.

Universe: Population for whom poverty status is determined · Geography: Census Block Group · Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates

Ward distribution Hover or click any dot to inspect

Min 6% 25th pct 9% Median 17% 75th pct 23% Max 35%

Ward ranking: Below the Poverty Line (2020–24)

Excel

#1	Ward 20	Jeanette B. Taylor	34.8%	+18 pts
#2	Ward 24	Monique L. Scott	30.8%	+14 pts
#3	Ward 16	Stephanie D. Coleman	30.5%	+13.7 pts
#4	Ward 28	Jason C. Ervin	30.3%	+13.5 pts
#5	Ward 17	David Moore	29.1%	+12.3 pts
#6	Ward 7	Gregory Mitchell	28.1%	+11.2 pts
#7	Ward 10	Peter Chico	26.9%	+10 pts
#8	Ward 6	William E. Hall	26.1%	+9.3 pts
#9	Ward 9	Anthony Beale	25.1%	+8.3 pts
#10	Ward 4	Lamont J. Robinson	24.3%	+7.4 pts
#11	Ward 15	Raymond Lopez	23.9%	+7.1 pts
#12	Ward 5	Desmon C. Yancy	23.3%	+6.4 pts
#13	Ward 37	Emma Mitts	23.2%	+6.4 pts
#14	Ward 21	Ronnie L. Mosley	22.3%	+5.5 pts
#15	Ward 8	Michelle Harris	21.9%	+5.1 pts
#16	Ward 26	Jessica Fuentes	21.1%	+4.3 pts
#17	Ward 27	Walter Redmond Burnett	21.1%	+4.2 pts
#18	Ward 3	Pat Dowell	20.3%	+3.5 pts
#19	Ward 25	Byron Sigcho Lopez	20.1%	+3.3 pts
#20	Ward 50	Debra Silverstein	20%	+3.1 pts
#21	Ward 29	Chris Taliaferro	20%	+3.1 pts
#22	Ward 49	Maria E. Hadden	18.3%	+1.5 pts
#23	Ward 48	Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth	18.3%	+1.5 pts
#24	Ward 11	Nicole T. Lee	18.1%	+1.2 pts
#25	Ward 22	Michael D. Rodriguez	17.5%	+0.7 pts
#26	Ward 12	Julia M. Ramirez	17.4%	+0.6 pts
#27	Ward 31	Felix Cardona, Jr.	17.4%	+0.6 pts
#28	Ward 46	Angela Clay	16.2%	-0.6 pts
#29	Ward 14	Jeylu B. Gutierrez	13.6%	-3.2 pts
#30	Ward 36	Gilbert Villegas	13.3%	-3.5 pts
#31	Ward 23	Silvana Tabares	13%	-3.8 pts
#32	Ward 40	Andre Vasquez, Jr.	12.4%	-4.4 pts
#33	Ward 30	Ruth Cruz	12.3%	-4.5 pts
#34	Ward 18	Derrick G. Curtis	12.3%	-4.6 pts
#35	Ward 33	Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez	11.4%	-5.4 pts
#36	Ward 39	Samantha Nugent	11%	-5.8 pts
#37	Ward 35	Anthony Quezada	9.6%	-7.2 pts
#38	Ward 43	Timmy Knudsen	9.3%	-7.5 pts
#39	Ward 2	Brian Hopkins	9%	-7.8 pts
#40	Ward 1	Daniel La Spata	8.9%	-7.9 pts
#41	Ward 34	William Conway	8.9%	-7.9 pts
#42	Ward 13	Marty Quinn	8.6%	-8.2 pts
#43	Ward 44	Bennett R. Lawson	8.4%	-8.4 pts
#44	Ward 38	Nicholas Sposato	8.1%	-8.8 pts
#45	Ward 45	James M. Gardiner	7.4%	-9.5 pts
#46	Ward 19	Matthew J. O’Shea	7.1%	-9.7 pts
#47	Ward 42	Brendan Reilly	6.9%	-10 pts
#48	Ward 41	Anthony Napolitano	6.6%	-10.2 pts
#49	Ward 47	Matthew J. Martin	6.2%	-10.6 pts
#50	Ward 32	Scott Waguespack	6.1%	-10.8 pts

All 381 ward maps

Basic Demographics

• Hispanic Residents
• White Residents
• Black Residents
• Asian Residents
• Other Race/Ethnicity Residents
• Less Than High School
• High School or GED
• Some College
• Bachelor's Degree
• Graduate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher
• Population
• Total Households
• Population Density
• Veteran (% of civilian adults 18+)
• Veteran Status: Post-9/11 Gulf War Era (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Pre-9/11 Gulf War Era Only (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Vietnam Era (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Korean War (% of veterans)
• Veteran Status: Other / Peacetime Service (% of veterans)

Households & Families

• Average Household Size
• Never-Married Residents
• Married Residents
• Separated Residents
• Divorced Residents
• Widowed Residents
• Married-Couple Households
• Unmarried-Couple Households
• One-Person Households
• Other Household Types
• Children in Married-Couple Households
• Children in Unmarried-Couple Households
• Children in Single-Mother Households
• Children in Single-Father Households

Immigration

• U.S.-Born Residents
• Foreign-Born Residents (% of all residents)
• Foreign-Born Naturalized Citizens (% of all residents)
• Foreign-Born Noncitizens (% of all residents)

Country of Birth

• Mexico (% of all residents)
• China / Hong Kong (% of all residents)
• India (% of all residents)
• Poland (% of all residents)
• Philippines (% of all residents)
• Ecuador (% of all residents)
• Guatemala (% of all residents)
• Nigeria (% of all residents)
• Venezuela (% of all residents)
• Ukraine (% of all residents)
• Colombia (% of all residents)
• Korea (% of all residents)
• Vietnam (% of all residents)
• Pakistan (% of all residents)
• Russia (% of all residents)
• Honduras (% of all residents)
• Peru (% of all residents)
• Bosnia (% of all residents)
• Ghana (% of all residents)
• France (% of all residents)
• Iraq (% of all residents)
• Ethiopia (% of all residents)
• Burma (% of all residents)
• Malaysia (% of all residents)

Language

• Speak Only English at Home
• Speak a Language Other Than English at Home
• Speak Spanish at Home
• Speak French, Haitian, or Cajun at Home
• Speak German or Other West Germanic at Home
• Speak Russian, Polish, or Other Slavic at Home
• Speak Other Indo-European Language at Home
• Speak Korean at Home
• Speak Chinese at Home (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese)
• Speak Vietnamese at Home
• Speak Tagalog at Home (incl. Filipino)
• Speak Other Asian or Pacific Island Language at Home
• Speak Arabic at Home
• Speak Other Languages at Home
• Native English Speaker or Speaks English Very Well
• Combined Speaks English Less Than Very Well (% of residents age 5+)
• Speaks English Well (% of residents age 5+)
• Speaks English Not Well (% of residents age 5+)
• Does Not Speak English (% of residents age 5+)

Household Income

• Average Household Income
• Per Capita Income
• 10th Percentile Household Income
• 25th Percentile Household Income
• Median Household Income
• 75th Percentile Household Income
• 90th Percentile Household Income

Poverty

• Below the Poverty Line
• Below 200% of the Poverty Line
• Below 50% of the Poverty Line

Material Hardship

• Food Insecurity
• Housing Insecurity
• Transportation Barriers
• Threatened Utility Shutoff

Employment

• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: In the Labor Force
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Employed
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Unemployed
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Unemployment Rate (% of the civilian labor force)
• 25-54 Year Old Employment Status: Not in the Labor Force

Occupation

• Occupation: Management, Business, Science & Arts
• Occupation: Management Occupations
• Occupation: Business & Financial Operations
• Occupation: Computer & Mathematical
• Occupation: Architecture & Engineering
• Occupation: Life, Physical & Social Science
• Occupation: Community & Social Service
• Occupation: Legal Occupations
• Occupation: Education, Training & Library
• Occupation: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
• Occupation: Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners
• Occupation: Health Technologists & Technicians
• Occupation: Service
• Occupation: Healthcare Support
• Occupation: Protective Service
• Occupation: Food Preparation & Serving
• Occupation: Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance
• Occupation: Personal Care & Service
• Occupation: Sales & Office
• Occupation: Sales & Related
• Occupation: Office & Administrative Support
• Occupation: Natural Resources, Construction & Maintenance
• Occupation: Farming, Fishing & Forestry
• Occupation: Construction & Extraction
• Occupation: Installation, Maintenance & Repair
• Occupation: Production, Transportation & Material Moving
• Occupation: Production Occupations
• Occupation: Transportation Occupations
• Occupation: Material Moving Occupations

Industry

• Industry: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Mining
• Industry: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
• Industry: Mining, Quarrying & Oil and Gas Extraction
• Industry: Construction
• Industry: Manufacturing
• Industry: Wholesale Trade
• Industry: Retail Trade
• Industry: Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities
• Industry: Transportation & Warehousing
• Industry: Utilities
• Industry: Information
• Industry: Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
• Industry: Finance & Insurance
• Industry: Real Estate & Rental and Leasing
• Industry: Professional, Scientific & Management Services
• Industry: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
• Industry: Management of Companies & Enterprises
• Industry: Administrative, Support & Waste Management Services
• Industry: Education, Health Care & Social Assistance
• Industry: Educational Services
• Industry: Health Care & Social Assistance
• Industry: Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Food Services
• Industry: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
• Industry: Accommodation & Food Services
• Industry: Other Services
• Industry: Public Administration

Work & Earnings

• Average Earnings of Full-Time, Year-Round Workers
• Private Company Employee
• Self-Employed Workers
• Nonprofit Employees
• Government Employees
• Unpaid Family Worker
• Full-Time, Year-Round
• Part-Time or Part-Year
• Average FT Earnings
• 10th Percentile FT Earnings
• 25th Percentile FT Earnings
• Median FT Earnings
• 75th Percentile FT Earnings
• 90th Percentile FT Earnings
• Average PT Earnings
• 10th Percentile PT Earnings
• 25th Percentile PT Earnings
• Median PT Earnings
• 75th Percentile PT Earnings
• 90th Percentile PT Earnings
• Average Earnings
• 10th Percentile Earnings
• 25th Percentile Earnings
• Median Earnings
• 75th Percentile Earnings
• 90th Percentile Earnings

Economic Mobility

• Adult Outcomes: Household income at age 35
• Adult Outcomes: Household income rank (percentile)
• Adult Outcomes: Share reaching the top 20% of household income
• Adult Outcomes: Individual income at age 35
• Adult Outcomes: Fraction married
• Adult Outcomes: Employment rate
• Adult Outcomes: Incarceration rate
• Lower-Income Families: Household income at age 35
• Lower-Income Families: Household income rank (percentile)
• Lower-Income Families: Share reaching the top 20% of household income
• Lower-Income Families: Individual income at age 35
• Geographic Mobility: Stayed in the greater Chicago area
• Geographic Mobility: Stayed in the same small immediate neighborhood area

Local Jobs and Businesses

• Firm Size: Fewer Than 50 Employees
• All Jobs Located in Ward
• Jobs Held by Residents of the Same Ward
• Jobs Held by Residents of Another Ward
• Employed Residents Working in Their Own Ward
• Employed Residents Working Outside Their Ward

Industry of Local Jobs

• Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Mining
• Mining, Quarrying & Oil and Gas Extraction
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Wholesale Trade
• Retail Trade
• Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities
• Utilities
• Transportation & Warehousing
• Information
• Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
• Finance & Insurance
• Real Estate & Rental and Leasing
• Professional, Scientific & Management Services
• Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
• Management of Companies & Enterprises
• Administrative, Support & Waste Management Services
• Education, Health Care & Social Assistance
• Educational Services
• Health Care & Social Assistance
• Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Food Services
• Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
• Accommodation & Food Services
• Other Services
• Public Administration

Students

• Enrolled in K-12 (% of all residents)
• Public School (% of K–12 enrollees)
• Private School (% of K–12 enrollees)
• Enrolled in College (% of all residents)
• Public College or University (% of college enrollees)
• Private College or University (% of college enrollees)
• Undergraduate College (% of college enrollees)
• Graduate or Professional School (% of college enrollees)

Owners & Renters

• Owner-Occupied Housing (Households)
• Renter-Occupied Housing (Households)
• Owner-Occupied Housing (Residents)
• Renter-Occupied Housing (Residents)

Overall Housing Costs

• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Renters)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Renters)
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Owners)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Owners)
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Owners with a mortgage)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Owners with a mortgage)
• Cost Burdened: Spending 30% or More on Housing (Owners without a mortgage)
• Severely Cost Burdened: Spending 50% or More on Housing (Owners without a mortgage)
• 10th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs
• 25th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs
• Median Monthly Housing Costs
• 75th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs
• 90th Percentile Monthly Housing Costs

Renter Housing Costs

• Average Rent + Utilities
• 10th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• 25th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• Median Rent + Utilities
• 75th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• 90th Percentile Rent + Utilities
• Average Rent
• 10th Percentile Rent
• 25th Percentile Rent
• Median Rent
• 75th Percentile Rent
• 90th Percentile Rent

Homeowner Housing Costs

• Average Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 10th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 25th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• Median Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 75th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• 90th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs (With Mortgage)
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: Average Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 10th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 25th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: Median Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 75th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Monthly Homeowner Costs Without a Mortgage: 90th Percentile Monthly Owner Costs
• Home Values: Average Home Value
• 10th Percentile Home Value
• 25th Percentile Home Value
• Median Home Value
• 75th Percentile Home Value
• 90th Percentile Home Value

Federal Housing Assistance

• All HUD-Subsidized Units (% of housing units)
• Housing Choice Vouchers (% of housing units)
• Public Housing (% of housing units)
• Project-Based Section 8 (% of housing units)
• Other Project-Based Programs (% of housing units)
• Average Household Income
• Average Tenant-Paid Rent
• Average Monthly Government Spending
• Below 30% of Area Median Income
• HUD Recipient Households With Children
• HUD Recipient Households Where the Head or Spouse Has a Disability

Housing Stock

• Overall Vacancy Rate
• Rental Vacancy Rate (% of rental units)
• Owner Vacancy Rate (% of owner units)
• Occupied Housing Units
• Vacant Housing Units
• Median Year Built
• Single-Family Homes
• Buildings With 2–4 Units
• Buildings With 5–19 Units
• Buildings With 20 or More Units
• Overcrowded: More Than 1 Person per Room (% of occupied housing units)
• Natural Gas Heat
• Electric Heat
• Other Heating Source

Mobility

• Median Year Moved In
• Share Moved Within Last Year (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: Within Cook County (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: From a Different Illinois County (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: From a Different State (% of all residents)
• Moved Last Year: From Abroad (% of all residents)

Environment

• Tree Canopy (Area-weighted)
• Impervious Surfaces (Area-weighted)
• Natural Open Surfaces (Area-weighted)
• Homes Without Air Conditioning

Transportation

• Drove Alone to Work
• Carpooled to Work
• Commuted by Public Transit
• Walked to Work
• Biked to Work
• Other Commute Mode
• Average Commute Time
• Average Vehicles per Household
• Households With No Vehicle

Technology Access

• K–12 Students Without a Computer and/or Internet
• College Students Without a Computer and/or Internet
• No Computer or Smartphone
• Smartphone Only, No Desktop or Laptop
• Desktop or Laptop Available
• Has Internet Access
• Cellular Data Plan Only
• Internet Access Without a Paid Subscription
• No Internet Access

Health Insurance & Disability

• Uninsured Residents
• Uninsured Children Under 19 (% of children under 19)
• Uninsured Adults Ages 19–64 (% of adults ages 19–64)
• Uninsured Adults Ages 65 and Older (% of adults 65 and older)
• Insured (Any Coverage)
• Employer-Based Insurance
• Direct-Purchase Insurance
• Health Insurance Coverage Types: Medicare
• Health Insurance Coverage Types: Medicaid
• Military Health Coverage (TRICARE / VA)
• Multiple Types of Insurance, Specific Types Unspecified
• Health Insurance Coverage Types: Uninsured
• Any Disability
• Ambulatory Disability
• Hearing Disability
• Vision Disability
• Cognitive Disability
• Self-Care Disability
• Independent Living Disability

Health

• Incidence of Health Problems: Arthritis
• High Blood Pressure
• Incidence of Health Problems: Cancer
• Incidence of Health Problems: Current Asthma
• Coronary Heart Disease
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Incidence of Health Problems: Diabetes
• Incidence of Health Problems: High Cholesterol
• Incidence of Health Problems: Obesity
• Incidence of Health Problems: Stroke
• Lost All Natural Teeth
• Binge Drinking in Past 30 Days
• Current Cigarette Smoking
• No Leisure-Time Physical Activity
• Short Sleep Duration
• Fair or Poor Self-Reported Health
• Frequent Physical Distress
• Taking Medication for High Blood Pressure
• Routine Checkup in Past Year
• Cholesterol Check in Past 5 Years
• Up to Date on Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Dental Visit in Past Year
• Mammogram in Past 2 Years
• Medical Provider-Diagnosed Depression
• Frequent Mental Distress
• Lack of Social/Emotional Support
• Loneliness