Population 38,333 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Lawndale
Household size in South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.90 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.77 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.55 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.14 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.76 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in South Lawndale are large by national standards, averaging 3.14 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.90, 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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 28.9 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.2 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.1 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
South Lawndale is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 27.5, a much bigger shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the center.
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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in South Lawndale: 16.7% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Lawndale
Renters in South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.1% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 60.3% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.3% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.0% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −12.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in South Lawndale than nationally: 48.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Nearly six in ten owners (57.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the south. The renter share has fallen 12.1 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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.3% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −14.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in South Lawndale: 6.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 14.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Lawndale has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Chicago neighborhoods.
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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1940 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
South Lawndale is a place of older homes: half were built before 1940, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Of Chicago's 135 neighborhoods, only 12 have older homes.
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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $745 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $742 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $839 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,071 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$326 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Lawndale costs $1,071 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $326 a month since 2006–10, up 44%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the north.
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 South Lawndale
Bachelor's degrees in South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in South Lawndale have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 14.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 9.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. South Lawndale has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Chicago neighborhoods.
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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 46.7% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 54.3% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 62.2% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +21.5 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults in South Lawndale never finished high school, well above the national share: only 62.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 21.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Lawndale has the lowest share of high school graduates of any Chicago neighborhood.
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 South Lawndale
| Period | South Lawndale | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in South Lawndale than nationally: unemployment was 6.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
South Lawndale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lawndale | 3.14 | 36.6 | 16.7% | 48.0% | 6.1% | 1940 | $1,071 | 14.6% | 62.2% | 6.6% |
| Crawford | 3.02 | 40.7 | 12.0% | 52.5% | 8.1% | 1941 | $1,042 | 13.8% | 63.6% | 7.2% |
| Bohemian California | 2.75 | 37.3 | 12.9% | 64.2% | 9.6% | 1944 | $1,129 | 22.3% | 70.2% | 6.3% |
| North Lawndale | 2.86 | 34.0 | 31.4% | 73.6% | 18.7% | 1945 | $1,267 | 14.7% | 82.9% | 14.5% |
| Corwith | 2.99 | 32.8 | 15.7% | 49.6% | 8.2% | 1942 | $1,124 | 10.6% | 74.7% | 9.4% |
| Ducktown | 2.60 | 41.1 | 11.2% | 32.0% | 7.1% | 1938 | $1,202 | 32.7% | 78.2% | 5.9% |
| Brighton Park | 3.21 | 35.9 | 13.9% | 42.1% | 7.1% | 1944 | $1,139 | 16.2% | 68.7% | 6.7% |
| Lower West Side | 2.35 | 34.7 | 11.1% | 65.8% | 9.3% | 1942 | $1,316 | 39.0% | 75.6% | 8.0% |
| Claremont Cottages | 2.22 | 33.6 | 7.6% | 59.4% | 11.8% | 1986 | $1,803 | 59.1% | 93.1% | 9.2% |
| West Garfield Park | 2.55 | 38.0 | 24.5% | 62.9% | 21.5% | 1939 | $1,391 | 12.6% | 82.0% | 18.2% |
| 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: Berclair-Highland Heights, Memphis, TN · Berryessa, San Jose, CA · Beacon Hill, Seattle, WA · Arleta, Pacoima, CA · Bay Area, Corpus Christi, TX · Avondale, Chicago, IL · Auburndale, Queens, NY · New Brighton, Staten Island, NY · North Cheyenne, Las Vegas, NV · West End, Tacoma, WA
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 South Lawndale. 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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