ItemChicagoChicago Wards (data shown here if one selected)
NumberPercentNumberRankPercentRank

How Many Evictions Are There?

Eviction Filings
Eviction Filings18,220-----
Eviction Filing Rate
Eviction Filing Rate2.9%-----
Sealed Cases (% of eviction filings)
Not Sealed16,05988.1%----
Sealed2,16111.9%----

Why Do Evictions Happen?

Eviction with Back Rent Cases
Eviction Only3,30221.2%----
Eviction with Back Rent12,28278.8%----
Median Back Rent Sought
Median Back Rent Sought$2,389-----

What Happens In Eviction Court?

Eviction Orders (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order9,16258.8%----
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)6,42241.2%----
Eviction Orders by Default (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order by Default3,83124.6%----
Not a Default 11,75375.4%----
Eviction Orders at First Time Up (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order at First Time Up3,39021.8%----
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,28014.6%----
Not a First Time Up Outcome9,91463.6%----

Does Having An Attorney Matter?

Landlord Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Landlord13,52286.8%----
Landlord without an Attorney2,06213.2%----
Tenant Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Tenant1,62210.4%----
Tenant without an Attorney13,96289.6%----
Eviction Orders by Representation - likelihood of an eviction order (and/or a money judgment against a tenant) with or without an attorney.
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order8,31259.5%----
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)5,65040.5%----
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order85052.4%----
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)77247.6%----
Eviction Orders by Default by Representation
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order by Default3,67126.3%----
Not a Default 10,29173.7%----
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order by Default1609.9%----
Not a Default 1,46290.1%----
Eviction Orders at First Time Up by Representation
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order at First Time Up3,31223.7%----
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,26116.2%----
Not a First Time Up Outcome8,38960.1%----
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order at First Time Up784.8%----
Other Outcome at First Time Up191.2%----
Not a First Time Up Outcome1,52594%----

What About Legal Aid Attorneys?

Tenant Attorney Type (% of completed cases)
No Attorney13,96289.6%----
Private Attorney1,4059%----
Legal Aid Attorney2171.4%----
Eviction Orders by Attorney Type - likelihood of an eviction order (and/or a money judgment against a tenant) based on type of representation.
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order8,31259.5%----
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)5,65040.5%----
Private Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a private attorney)
Eviction Order78555.9%----
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)62044.1%----
Legal Aid Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a legal aid attorney)
Eviction Order6530%----
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)15270.1%----

Census Data

Data from US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year estimates were chosen for analysis as they provide the most current data at the census tract level. With 8 years of eviction data, we felt it warranted using more than one set of 5-year estimates, and as comparing non-overlapping 5-year estimates is the recommended approach, we chose to use the 2006-2010 estimates as a proxy for 2010 (our first year of eviction data) and the 2013-2017 estimates as our proxy for 2017 in overtime comparisons. Both sets of data are presented here for your use.

Poverty (% of Population)
2010 Poverty (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
At or above poverty level2,133,26078.9%----
Below poverty level570,04221.1%----
2018 Poverty (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
At or above poverty level2,186,30680.4%----
Below poverty level532,05619.6%----
Race (% of Population)
2010 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
White859,15631.8%----
Black909,83333.7%----
Latinx753,35627.9%----
Asian143,6465.3%----
Other37,3121.4%----
2018 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
White892,20732.8%----
Black808,16129.7%----
Latinx788,13429%----
Asian172,9356.4%----
Other56,9232.1%----
Rental Units (% of Housing)
2010 Rental Units (% of Housing) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
Rental Units (% of Housing)592,69249.5%----
2018 Rental Units (% of Housing) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Rental Units (% of Housing)626,86251.9%----
Median Rent
2010 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
Median Rent$885-----
2018 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Median Rent$1,077-----