Population 11,003 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Ravenswood
Household size in West Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.94 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.02 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.90 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in West Ravenswood are small: just 1.90 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. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 1.94, in line with the national trend.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.4 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.6 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.8 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.3 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of West Ravenswood is 36.3 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 34.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the northwest.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in West Ravenswood, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points, as it has nationally. West Ravenswood has a lower 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 Ravenswood
Renters in West Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.5% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 68.3% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.3% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 66.3% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in West Ravenswood rent: 66.3% 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, 35.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.8 points, as it has nationally.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in West Ravenswood is close to the national rate: 8.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1939 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1939 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1944 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in West Ravenswood is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1944, 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 1939 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $937 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,078 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,364 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,683 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$746 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Ravenswood pays $1,683 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $746 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.1% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the south.
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 Ravenswood
Bachelor's degrees in West Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.4% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 68.5% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 78.5% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.2% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in West Ravenswood: 70.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.6% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.3% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.3% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Ravenswood: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. West Ravenswood has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Chicago neighborhoods.
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 Ravenswood
| Period | West Ravenswood | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in West Ravenswood has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Chicago's 135 neighborhoods, only eight have lower unemployment. 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).
West Ravenswood 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 Ravenswood | 1.90 | 36.3 | 6.4% | 66.3% | 8.6% | 1944 | $1,683 | 70.2% | 96.2% | 3.3% |
| Ravenswood Gardens | 2.23 | 37.6 | 5.2% | 54.0% | 7.8% | 1938 | $1,690 | 76.5% | 97.8% | 4.1% |
| Bowmanville | 2.34 | 37.1 | 7.9% | 54.2% | 5.1% | 1952 | $1,556 | 65.1% | 94.3% | 6.4% |
| Lincoln Square | 2.18 | 37.4 | 8.8% | 58.6% | 6.6% | 1955 | $1,582 | 62.1% | 92.6% | 6.6% |
| Cuyler | 2.23 | 38.3 | 3.4% | 47.6% | 11.4% | 1942 | $1,795 | 80.8% | 97.9% | 4.3% |
| North Center | 2.58 | 37.7 | 3.8% | 39.3% | 8.6% | 1964 | $1,825 | 78.4% | 96.5% | 3.7% |
| Uptown | 1.70 | 37.1 | 5.2% | 70.1% | 10.3% | 1949 | $1,390 | 64.6% | 93.3% | 5.2% |
| Ravenswood Manor | 2.39 | 35.8 | 7.8% | 55.4% | 8.9% | 1943 | $1,528 | 53.9% | 89.5% | 6.4% |
| Andersonville | 2.02 | 40.7 | 4.6% | 52.1% | 9.7% | 1939 | $1,706 | 69.0% | 94.1% | 5.0% |
| Asia on Argyle | 1.66 | 41.4 | 5.7% | 72.3% | 8.8% | 1953 | $1,332 | 55.3% | 92.0% | 4.7% |
| Roscoe Village | 2.45 | 33.2 | 5.0% | 49.7% | 10.6% | 1945 | $1,954 | 81.9% | 98.0% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Jordan, Minneapolis, MN · Avenues West, Milwaukee, WI · West Garfield Park, Chicago, IL · Southwest Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO · River West, Bend, OR · Oak Park-Northwood, San Antonio, TX · Northwood Point, Irvine, CA · Northwest Crossing, San Antonio, TX · Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ · Near South, Lincoln, NE
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 Ravenswood. 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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