Population 8,921 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Garfield Park
Household size in West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.34 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.69 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.16 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.80 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in West Garfield Park run a little small, averaging 2.55 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 3.34 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.6 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 28.8 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.5 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.0 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.4 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of West Garfield Park is 38.0 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 28.6 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the west 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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.7% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 34.3% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −15.9 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about a quarter of households in West Garfield Park (24.5%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 15.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. West Garfield Park has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of 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 West Garfield Park
Renters in West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 73.8% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.8% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 62.9% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in West Garfield Park: 62.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Just over a third of owners (35.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 6.9 points, 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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.3% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.7% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.5% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.5% of the housing in West Garfield Park, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.3 points, as it has 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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | 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 | 1939 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in West Garfield Park is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1939, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Of Chicago's 135 neighborhoods, only nine 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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,005 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $977 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,027 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,391 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$387 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Garfield Park costs $1,391 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $387 a month from 2006–10, a 38% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 45.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the east.
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 West Garfield Park
Bachelor's degrees in West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in West Garfield Park have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Chicago neighborhoods have a lower share of college graduates: only eight of 135.
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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.0% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.7% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 75.0% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.0% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in West Garfield Park never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 7.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 West Garfield Park
| Period | West Garfield Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.5% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 19.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in West Garfield Park: 18.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of Chicago's 135 neighborhoods, only eight have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.4 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
West Garfield Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Garfield Park | 2.55 | 38.0 | 24.5% | 62.9% | 21.5% | 1939 | $1,391 | 12.6% | 82.0% | 18.2% |
| Whiskey Point | 3.28 | 35.0 | 24.9% | 56.9% | 8.6% | 1945 | $1,211 | 14.0% | 64.5% | 10.2% |
| Central Park | 2.68 | 36.9 | 28.9% | 74.6% | 15.4% | 1950 | $1,170 | 7.4% | 75.5% | 17.4% |
| North Lawndale | 2.86 | 34.0 | 31.4% | 73.6% | 18.7% | 1945 | $1,267 | 14.7% | 82.9% | 14.5% |
| East Garfield Park | 2.76 | 33.5 | 30.5% | 68.8% | 12.0% | 1954 | $1,251 | 22.4% | 83.7% | 17.9% |
| Mandell | 2.81 | 34.3 | 29.1% | 66.3% | 8.8% | 1949 | $1,179 | 13.5% | 85.0% | 15.7% |
| Moreland | 3.14 | 34.7 | 19.8% | 54.1% | 11.4% | 1941 | $1,263 | 12.9% | 82.5% | 16.4% |
| Humboldt Park | 3.15 | 33.5 | 27.4% | 59.8% | 9.7% | 1942 | $1,383 | 23.5% | 77.2% | 10.8% |
| Claremont Cottages | 2.22 | 33.6 | 7.6% | 59.4% | 11.8% | 1986 | $1,803 | 59.1% | 93.1% | 9.2% |
| 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% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Claytown, Detroit, MI · Adamsville, Atlanta, GA · Woodlawn, Pawtucket, RI · Windsor Park, Charlotte, NC · West University Austin, Austin, TX · West Ravenswood, Chicago, IL · West Bench, Boise, ID · Wade, Raleigh, NC · Turnagain, Anchorage, AK · Taku-Campbell, Anchorage, AK
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 West Garfield Park. 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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