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Chicago Office of Inspector General

Socioeconomic and City Data Comparison Dashboard

Home > Information Portal > Transparent City Dashboards > Socioeconomic and City Data Comparison Dashboard

Chicago is a City of neighborhoods; challenges faced by and services provided to residents look very different on some blocks than others. This dashboard offers the ability to analyze Chicago’s demographic and socioeconomic landscape, by integrating verified U.S. Census and City of Chicago data to shed light on the intersection of the City’s population, socioeconomic conditions, and City service and program delivery.

It is unique in offering the ability to compare U.S. Census data to City data in one dashboard. Side-by-side maps allow users to visualize and compare the distribution of City services and programs, such as 911 calls and Tax Increment Financing District (TIF), to Census data, such as race, household income, education level, or other factors.

What will you find here?

This dashboard offers the ability to analyze Chicago’s demographic and socioeconomic landscape, integrating an array of verified data to shed light on the intersection of the City’s population, socioeconomic conditions, and City service delivery metrics by ward and neighborhood. Key features include:

  • Population Demographics*: Mapping of population distribution by race, ethnicity, gender, and location, highlighting diversity and demographics across the City.
  • Socioeconomic Insights*: Detailed examination of poverty levels and educational attainment across communities, offering insight into these socioeconomic markers within different racial and ethnic groups.
  • 911 Calls for Police Service: A breakdown of dispatched 911 calls by priority, geography, and time, providing a snapshot of public safety needs and response patterns.
  • Economic and Development Information: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts and industrial zones, mapping out the economic landscape and development efforts across Chicago.

Some questions that the data in this dashboard can answer include:

  • How are different racial and ethnic groups distributed across the City of Chicago?
  • Which regions have the highest percentage of the population living below the poverty level?
  • How is educational attainment distributed across geographical regions?
  • How do 911 call patterns differ by region?
  • How are TIF Districts and industrial corridors distributed across the City?

Comparative Questions:

  • How does the level of education in a community compare to its average income and poverty rate?
  • How do poverty levels correlate with educational attainment?
  • How do income levels correlate with race/ethnicity, and gender?
  • How does demographic distribution correlate with the frequency of 911 calls?
  • How do poverty rates correlate with the frequency of 911 calls in different neighborhoods?

*Data Sources

  1. Populations, Education Levels, and Poverty Levels Data: These metrics can be found on the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/news/data-releases/2021/release.html. The data is available from the Census Bureau’s geographic data system: https://www2.census.gov/geo/tiger/TIGER_DP/2021ACS/.
  2. Dispatched 911 Calls Data: Data on emergency response calls by geography can be found on the Chicago Inspector General’s Information Portal: https://informationportal.igchicago.org/911-calls-by-geography/.
  3. TIF Districts Data: The boundaries of TIF Districts in Chicago can be found on the City of Chicago’s data portal: https://data.cityofchicago.org/Community-Economic-Development/Boundaries-Tax-Increment-Financing-Districts/fz5x-7zak. Additional information on TIF Districts and their fund balances can be found on the Chicago Inspector General’s Information Portal: https://igchicago.org/information-portal/data-dashboards/chicago-tif-districts-map-fund-balances/.
  4. Industrial Corridors Data: The current boundaries of Industrial Corridors in Chicago can be found on the City of Chicago’s data portal: https://data.cityofchicago.org/Community-Economic-Development/Boundaries-Industrial-Corridors-current-/e6xh-nr8w.
  5. Community Areas, Wards, Police Districts, and Beats Data: