3 heat maps show Chicago's changing real estate landscape

KIG Analytics created heat maps examining new construction and demolition permits, the elderly population and median income, home value and educational attainment in the city of Chicago.

Here are the maps with findings:

" target="_blank">Chicago new construction and demolition permits filed from 2006-2015

• The Chicago neighborhood of Englewood has the highest concentration of demolition permits.
• Based on open portal census data, Marc Rutzen finds West Town to have good investment potential for developers based on the availability of low-rise buildings and vacant land.
• From 2006 to 2008, the Loop and surrounding areas were witnessing high levels of new construction activity; however, it all mostly came to a halt in 2009.
• Activity resumed in 2013, but has not yet achieved prerecession levels.

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Elderly populations in Chicago over time

Chicago neighborhood with the highest elderly population:

• 1980 — Lake View
• 1990 — West Ridge
• 2000 — Austin
• 2010 — Near North Side
• 2013 — Near North Side

Median income, home value and educational attainment in Chicago

• The neighborhood with the largest number of college graduates is Lake View, where nearly 64 percent of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Lake View had the third-highest median home value in 2013, according to Census data.
• The neighborhood with the highest median home values is Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park also has the second-highest percentage of college graduates at 59.3 percent.
• Beverly is actually the neighborhood with the highest median income at approximately $96,300. Lincoln Park has the second-highest median income at $93,700.
• The proportion of the population with a bachelor’s degree or higher can vary significantly between Census tracts, as is evident in the heat map.

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