ItemChicagoWard 33
NumberPercentNumberRankPercentRank

How Many Evictions Are There?

Eviction Filings
Eviction Filings23,356-24032nd--
Eviction Filing Rate
Eviction Filing Rate3.8%-2%38th--
Sealed Cases (% of eviction filings)
Not Sealed19,72784.5%18732nd77.9%40th
Sealed3,62915.5%5330th22.1%11th

Why Do Evictions Happen?

Eviction with Back Rent Cases
Eviction Only3,13316%3832nd20.8%17th
Eviction with Back Rent16,43184%14532nd79.2%34th
Median Back Rent Sought
Median Back Rent Sought$1,871-$2,06722nd--

What Happens In Eviction Court?

Eviction Orders (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order11,75460.1%10235th55.7%36th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)7,81039.9%8130th44.3%15th
Eviction Orders by Default (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order by Default2,27011.6%1540th8.2%44th
Not a Default 17,29488.4%16832nd91.8%7th
Eviction Orders at First Time Up (% of completed cases)
Eviction Order at First Time Up6,28132.1%5934th32.2%28th
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,51212.8%2726th14.8%17th
Not a First Time Up Outcome10,77155.1%9736th53%35th

Does Having An Attorney Matter?

Landlord Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Landlord15,92781.4%15432nd84.2%22nd
Landlord without an Attorney3,63718.6%2935th15.9%29th
Tenant Representation (% of completed cases)
Represented Tenant2,33511.9%2043rd10.9%36th
Tenant without an Attorney17,22988.1%16331st89.1%15th
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%9833rd60.1%32nd
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)6,49437.7%6530th39.9%19th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order1,01943.6%447th20%50th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)1,31656.4%1630th80%1st
Eviction Orders by Default by Representation
No Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants did not have an attorney)
Eviction Order by Default2,19412.7%1539th9.2%44th
Not a Default 15,03587.3%14831st90.8%7th
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order by Default763.3%036th0%36th
Not a Default 2,25996.8%2042nd100%1st
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%5933rd36.2%28th
Other Outcome at First Time Up2,46614.3%2726th16.6%17th
Not a First Time Up Outcome8,61150%7733rd47.2%31st
With an Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had attorney representation)
Eviction Order at First Time Up1295.5%039th0%39th
Other Outcome at First Time Up462%023rd0%23rd
Not a First Time Up Outcome2,16092.5%2040th100%1st

What About Legal Aid Attorneys?

Tenant Attorney Type (% of completed cases)
No Attorney17,22988.1%16331st89.1%15th
Private Attorney1,99010.2%1643rd8.7%40th
Legal Aid Attorney3451.8%429th2.2%13th
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%9833rd60.1%32nd
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)6,49437.7%6530th39.9%19th
Private Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a private attorney)
Eviction Order92846.6%446th25%49th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)1,06253.4%1234th75%1st
Legal Aid Attorney (% of completed cases where tenants had a legal aid attorney)
Eviction Order9126.4%036th0%36th
Other Outcome (primarily dismissals)25473.6%423rd100%1st

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%46,62814th84.4%17th
Below poverty level565,02420.9%8,59734th15.6%34th
2018 Poverty (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
At or above poverty level2,188,43780.5%46,25821st83.6%19th
Below poverty level530,11819.5%9,04831st16.4%32nd
Race (% of Population)
2010 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
White859,28231.8%18,02120th32.6%20th
Black909,84233.7%1,91738th3.5%38th
Latinx753,37527.9%29,41214th53.3%14th
Asian143,6545.3%4,9159th8.9%9th
Other37,3131.4%95815th1.7%14th
2018 Race (% of Population) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
White892,32332.8%20,76318th37.5%18th
Black808,16529.7%2,29535th4.2%33rd
Latinx788,14029%25,40314th45.9%14th
Asian172,9916.4%5,31111th9.6%11th
Other56,9362.1%1,53516th2.8%16th
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%11,62425th53.3%20th
2018 Rental Units (% of Housing) from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Rental Units (% of Housing)626,92951.9%12,71321st57%17th
Median Rent
2010 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2006-2010)
Median Rent$885-$806 - $1,070---
2018 Median Rent from American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014-2018)
Median Rent$1,077-$990 - $1,331---