Housing in West at a glance
- Population
- about 434,233
- Housing units
- about 185,759
- Median value, owner-occupied homes
- $327,000Chicago: $334,100 (-2%)
- Median gross rent
- $1,330 a monthChicago: $1,440 (-8%)
- Owner-occupied homes
- 38.5%Chicago: 46%
- Homes built before 1980
- 74.9%
- Median year built
- 1939 or earlier
West sits near Chicago's population centre and looks like the city itself: a $327,000 median value against $334,100 citywide, $1,330 in rent against $1,440, and a 38.5% owner share where Chicago stands at 46%. It ranks fourth of seven on both value and rent. The one clear difference is age, since the median dwelling dates from 1939 or earlier and 74.9% of homes are from before 1980, though that is only sixth of seven, with Northwest on 82.9% and Southwest on 85.6%. Central, at $490,000, is far higher than West, while Southwest, at $268,000, is lower, which leaves West in the middle. The region has 434,233 residents and owners number 65,139 against 103,914 renter households.
Questions about West
What is the median home value in West, Chicago?
$327,000 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 West?
$1,330 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 West own or rent?
Most rent: 38.5% 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 147 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 West
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 West. 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 West? Ask for your spot.