ItemChicagoWard 17
NumberPercentNumberRankPercentRank

How Many Evictions Are There?

Eviction Filings
Eviction Filings18,220-7049th--
Eviction Filing Rate
Eviction Filing Rate2.9%-6.5%3rd--
Sealed Cases (% of eviction filings)
Not Sealed16,05988.1%6089th86.4%34th
Sealed2,16111.9%966th13.6%16th

Why Do Evictions Happen?

Eviction with Back Rent Cases
Eviction Only3,30221.2%1526th25.6%15th
Eviction with Back Rent12,28278.8%4419th74.4%36th
Median Back Rent Sought
Median Back Rent Sought$2,389-$2,17538th--

What Happens In Eviction Court?

Eviction Orders (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order9,16258.8%3629th61.1%17th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)6,42241.2%2319th39%34th
Eviction Orders by Default (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order by Default3,83124.6%1507th25.3%15th
Not a Default 11,75375.4%4439th74.7%36th
Eviction Orders at First Time Up (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order at First Time Up3,39021.8%10711th18%46th
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,28014.6%6715th11.3%38th
Not a First Time Up Outcome9,91463.6%4197th70.7%4th

Does Having An Attorney Matter?

Landlord Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Landlord13,52286.8%4869th82%34th
Landlord without an Attorney2,06213.2%1074th18%17th
Tenant Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Tenant1,62210.4%4813th8.1%47th
Tenant without an Attorney13,96289.6%5458th91.9%4th
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%3369th61.7%19th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)5,65040.5%2099th38.4%32nd
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order85052.4%2612th54.2%21st
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)77247.6%2212th45.8%30th
Eviction Orders by Default by Representation
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order by Default3,67126.3%1487th27.2%16th
Not a Default 10,29173.7%3979th72.8%35th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order by Default1609.9%222nd4.2%37th
Not a Default 1,46290.1%4612th95.8%14th
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%10611th19.5%47th
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,26116.2%6715th12.3%38th
Not a First Time Up Outcome8,38960.1%3726th68.3%4th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order at First Time Up784.8%119th2.1%33rd
Other Outcome at First Time Up191.2%014th0%14th
Not a First Time Up Outcome1,52594%4711th97.9%15th

What About Legal Aid Attorneys?

Tenant Attorney Type (% of completed cases)
No Attorney13,96289.6%5458th91.9%4th
Private Attorney1,4059%4213th7.1%46th
Legal Aid Attorney2171.4%613th1%31st
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%3369th61.7%19th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)5,65040.5%2099th38.4%32nd
Private Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a private attorney)
Eviction Order78555.9%2511th59.5%18th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)62044.1%1713th40.5%33rd
Legal Aid Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a legal aid attorney)
Eviction Order6530%119th16.7%28th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)15270.1%510th83.3%19th

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 level2,138,44279.1%37,91438th69.5%43rd
Below poverty level565,02420.9%16,6418th30.5%8th
2018 Poverty (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
At or above poverty level2,188,43780.5%35,02642nd72.8%39th
Below poverty level530,11819.5%13,06718th27.2%12th
Race (% of Population)
2010 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
White859,28231.8%1,15142nd2.1%42nd
Black909,84233.7%47,2917th86.7%7th
Latinx753,37527.9%5,59834th10.3%34th
Asian143,6545.3%14843rd0.3%43rd
Other37,3131.4%36041st0.7%41st
2018 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
White892,32332.8%97044th2%44th
Black808,16529.7%37,9619th78.9%8th
Latinx788,14029%8,01428th16.7%27th
Asian172,9916.4%16043rd0.3%42nd
Other56,9362.1%98824th2.1%23rd
Rental Units (% of Housing)
2010 Rental Units (% of Housing) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
Rental Units (% of Housing)592,75249.5%11,13527th53.2%21st
2018 Rental Units (% of Housing) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Rental Units (% of Housing)626,92951.9%10,90029th53%25th
Median Rent
2010 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
Median Rent$885-$589 - $1,159---
2018 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Median Rent$1,077-$679 - $1,131---