Housing in North at a glance
- Population
- about 515,180
- Housing units
- about 280,112
- Median value, owner-occupied homes
- $442,000Chicago: $334,100 (+32%)
- Median gross rent
- $1,610 a monthChicago: $1,440 (+12%)
- Owner-occupied homes
- 39.8%Chicago: 46%
- Homes built before 1980
- 76.8%
- Median year built
- 1955
North ranks second of Chicago's seven regions for both value and rent: a $442,000 median and $1,610 monthly, ahead of Northwest ($395,000 and $1,450) but behind Central ($490,000 and $2,340). The city overall shows $334,100 and $1,440. Renters outnumber owners, with 39.8% owning, fourth of seven. The stock comes from the mid-century, since the typical home dates to 1955 and 76.8% of homes have roots before 1980, while Central is much newer at 33.1%. The region occupies the northern part of the city, and its 515,180 residents give it one of the largest populations among the regions. Northwest to its side shows a higher owner share, 56.2%, and West a lower one, 38.5%.
Questions about North
What is the median home value in North, Chicago?
$442,000 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 North?
$1,610 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 North own or rent?
Most rent: 39.8% 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 138 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 North
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 North. 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 North? Ask for your spot.