ItemChicagoWard 3
NumberPercentNumberRankPercentRank

How Many Evictions Are There?

Eviction Filings
Eviction Filings23,356-8309th--
Eviction Filing Rate
Eviction Filing Rate3.8%-4.9%17th--
Sealed Cases (% of eviction filings)
Not Sealed19,72784.5%7239th87.1%15th
Sealed3,62915.5%10713th12.9%36th

Why Do Evictions Happen?

Eviction with Back Rent Cases
Eviction Only3,13316%9611th13.5%35th
Eviction with Back Rent16,43184%6169th86.5%16th
Median Back Rent Sought
Median Back Rent Sought$1,871-$1,96727th--

What Happens In Eviction Court?

Eviction Orders (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order11,75460.1%4069th57%34th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)7,81039.9%3067th43%17th
Eviction Orders by Default (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order by Default2,27011.6%898th12.5%16th
Not a Default 17,29488.4%6239th87.5%35th
Eviction Orders at First Time Up (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order at First Time Up6,28132.1%20310th28.5%44th
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,51212.8%1027th14.3%19th
Not a First Time Up Outcome10,77155.1%4078th57.2%15th

Does Having An Attorney Matter?

Landlord Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Landlord15,92781.4%6417th90%15th
Landlord without an Attorney3,63718.6%7120th10%36th
Tenant Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Tenant2,33511.9%866th12.1%26th
Tenant without an Attorney17,22988.1%6269th87.9%25th
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 Order10,73562.3%3719th59.3%35th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)6,49437.7%2557th40.7%16th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order1,01943.6%359th40.7%33rd
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)1,31656.4%517th59.3%18th
Eviction Orders by Default by Representation
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order by Default2,19412.7%887th14.1%13th
Not a Default 15,03587.3%53810th85.9%38th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order by Default763.3%119th1.2%35th
Not a Default 2,25996.8%856th98.8%16th
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 Up6,15235.7%20110th32.1%42nd
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,46614.3%1017th16.1%22nd
Not a First Time Up Outcome8,61150%3249th51.8%15th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order at First Time Up1295.5%220th2.3%36th
Other Outcome at First Time Up462%113th1.2%22nd
Not a First Time Up Outcome2,16092.5%836th96.5%14th

What About Legal Aid Attorneys?

Tenant Attorney Type (% of completed cases)
No Attorney17,22988.1%6269th87.9%25th
Private Attorney1,99010.2%688th9.6%33rd
Legal Aid Attorney3451.8%183rd2.5%9th
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 Order10,73562.3%3719th59.3%35th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)6,49437.7%2557th40.7%16th
Private Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a private attorney)
Eviction Order92846.6%328th47.1%21st
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)1,06253.4%369th52.9%28th
Legal Aid Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a legal aid attorney)
Eviction Order9126.4%310th16.7%31st
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)25473.6%152nd83.3%17th

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%36,78442nd73.9%36th
Below poverty level565,02420.9%13,02720th26.2%15th
2018 Poverty (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
At or above poverty level2,188,43780.5%43,79426th75%35th
Below poverty level530,11819.5%14,5748th25%16th
Race (% of Population)
2010 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
White859,28231.8%10,00232nd20.1%27th
Black909,84233.7%34,51615th69.3%12th
Latinx753,37527.9%1,63145th3.3%45th
Asian143,6545.3%3,05719th6.1%16th
Other37,3131.4%60128th1.2%24th
2018 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
White892,32332.8%13,77524th23.6%29th
Black808,16529.7%34,83710th59.7%14th
Latinx788,14029%2,09446th3.6%46th
Asian172,9916.4%6,1579th10.6%9th
Other56,9362.1%1,50118th2.6%18th
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%15,12616th53.7%18th
2018 Rental Units (% of Housing) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Rental Units (% of Housing)626,92951.9%18,0499th57.1%16th
Median Rent
2010 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
Median Rent$885-$247 - $1,268---
2018 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Median Rent$1,077-$280 - $2,114---