Housing in Central at a glance
- Population
- about 236,523
- Housing units
- about 151,451
- Median value, owner-occupied homes
- $490,000Chicago: $334,100 (+47%)
- Median gross rent
- $2,340 a monthChicago: $1,440 (+62%)
- Owner-occupied homes
- 35.9%Chicago: 46%
- Homes built before 1980
- 33.1%
- Median year built
- 1999
Central tops Chicago's seven planning regions on the two measures that matter most to a buyer or renter: a $490,000 median home value and $2,340 in monthly rent, against $334,100 and $1,440 for the city overall. It is also the newest region, with a median build year of 1999 and only 33.1% of homes older than 1980, while Southwest shows 85.6% and West 74.9%. Renters dominate, as just 35.9% of households own, sixth of seven. The region lies east of the population centre, and North, valued at $442,000, comes closest among its neighbours. West, with $327,000, is far lower, and Southwest, with $268,000, lower still.
Questions about Central
What is the median home value in Central, Chicago?
$490,000 for owner-occupied homes, against $334,100 for Chicago as a whole (Payotte estimate from Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year data for the census tracts within the official boundary). It is the owners' own estimate of their home's value, not a sale price.
What is the median rent in Central?
$2,340 a month in gross rent (rent plus utilities paid by the renter), against $1,440 in Chicago (Payotte estimate from Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year data for the census tracts within the official boundary).
Do most people in Central own or rent?
Most rent: 35.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, against 46% in Chicago (Payotte estimate from Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year data for the census tracts within the official boundary).
Data and method
Data as of: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (retrieved 2026-11-02).
Estimate from the 46 census tracts whose internal point lies within the official boundary: counts are summed, and each median is recomputed from the summed value, rent and year-built brackets (grouped median, linear interpolation). The gap with the city is measured with the same method on the whole city. Boundaries used: City of Chicago Data Portal, Planning Regions (spyv-p8fk) (consulted 2026-11-02).
Sector boundaries: Planning regions (7), Boundaries - Planning Regions, City of Chicago Data Portal.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B01003, B25001, B25003, B25034, B25063, B25064, B25075, B25077; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer files (census tract internal points). City figures: the same survey, published for Chicago as a whole. Home values are owners' estimates, not sale prices.
Near Central
The closest sectors of Chicago, by distance between population centres.
Other sectors of Chicago
Five trades, one spot each
Payotte lists one professional per trade in Central. No one is listed yet: every spot is open.
- Real estate agentOpen spot
- Mortgage loan officerOpen spot
- Home inspectorOpen spot
- Real estate attorneyOpen spot
- AppraiserOpen spot
Work in one of these trades in Central? Ask for your spot.