Population 9,606 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pilsen
Household size in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.71 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.71 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.50 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Pilsen are small: just 2.21 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.71 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.1 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.9 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.5 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Pilsen is young: half of its residents are under 33.5, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 30.4, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.1% of households in Pilsen, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 7.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Pilsen has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Chicago neighborhoods.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Pilsen
Renters in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.4% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 78.7% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.0% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 75.8% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Pilsen rent: 75.8% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 27.5% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.9% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −12.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Pilsen as nationally: 9.3%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Chicago area as a whole (7.2%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 12.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1941 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1947 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Pilsen is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1947, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1938 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $644 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $736 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $984 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,463 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$819 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Pilsen costs $1,463 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $819 a month since 2006–10, up 127%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Pilsen
Bachelor's degrees in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.8% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.1% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +23.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Pilsen than nationally: 43.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 23.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.2% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 67.5% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 71.4% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.1% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +29.0 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Pilsen never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 29.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Pilsen
| Period | Pilsen | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pilsen is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Chicago area overall (6.3%). Unemployment has fallen 10.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Pilsen compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilsen | 2.21 | 33.5 | 5.1% | 75.8% | 9.3% | 1947 | $1,463 | 43.1% | 83.1% | 5.5% |
| Lower West Side | 2.35 | 34.7 | 11.1% | 65.8% | 9.3% | 1942 | $1,316 | 39.0% | 75.6% | 8.0% |
| University Village | 2.13 | 30.3 | 7.0% | 67.8% | 6.5% | 1986 | $1,676 | 67.1% | 94.1% | 7.5% |
| Locks | 2.46 | 32.6 | 9.9% | 46.5% | 6.8% | 1946 | $1,472 | 38.5% | 78.0% | 6.4% |
| Near West Side | 1.86 | 33.6 | 7.8% | 69.1% | 6.5% | 1994 | $1,949 | 63.1% | 93.8% | 8.3% |
| Armour Square | 2.47 | 43.5 | 12.7% | 61.9% | 6.4% | 1965 | $1,056 | 28.3% | 71.4% | 11.4% |
| Bridgeport | 2.38 | 40.2 | 7.3% | 50.5% | 6.9% | 1954 | $1,366 | 40.4% | 84.4% | 5.8% |
| Greektown | 1.60 | 32.6 | 1.4% | 58.5% | 7.0% | 1998 | $2,518 | 86.7% | 98.4% | 4.1% |
| Claremont Cottages | 2.22 | 33.6 | 7.6% | 59.4% | 11.8% | 1986 | $1,803 | 59.1% | 93.1% | 9.2% |
| Near South Side | 1.78 | 36.2 | 7.1% | 50.5% | 6.6% | 2002 | $2,340 | 80.9% | 97.4% | 5.1% |
| Mount Pleasant | 2.77 | 43.8 | 8.2% | 24.0% | 12.9% | 1938 | $1,199 | 28.4% | 77.9% | 7.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: West Side, Scranton, PA · East San Gabriel, San Gabriel, CA · Ellerbee Woods, Shreveport, LA · Emerson Garfield, Spokane, WA · Englewood, Jacksonville, FL · Evanston, Cincinnati, OH · Avalon Park, Chicago, IL · Winship, Detroit, MI · Windsor Spring, Hephzibah, GA · Ballantyne East, Charlotte, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Pilsen. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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