Census: Oak Lawn Has Higher Home Values, Lower Education Rates Than State Average
Released Thursday, the five-year American Community Survey offers detailed demographic information on communities throughout the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau last week released estimates from its American Community Survey, which provides local statistics for the combined years from 2007 to 2011 on everything from housing to employment to marital status in communities throughout the country.
The five-year estimates are based on interviews with almost two million housing units nationwide from 2007 through 2011. By pooling several years of survey responses, the American Community Survey generates detailed statistical portraits for small areas. The groupings of five-year estimates are released annually.
Oak Lawn has a significantly higher number of home owners compared with the state as a whole, while maintaining a household income level just slightly higher than the state's number.
The number of Oak Lawn residents below poverty level sits at 7.6 percent, compared with 13.1 percent state wide. One of the few categories where Oak Lawn was behind the state average was in the percentage of residents with a college degree. In Oak Lawn the number is 25.1 percent, compared to 30.7 percent statewide.
Here's what the American Community Survey has to say about Oak Lawn when it comes to home ownership and income:
| Oak Lawn | State | |
| Homeownership rate | 83.4% |
68.7% |
| Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2007-2011 | 33.4% |
32.9% |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2007-2011 | $225,800 |
$198,500 |
| Households, 2007-2011 | 21,824 |
4,773,002 |
| Persons per household, 2007-2011 | 2.55 |
2.62 |
| Per capita money income in the past 12 months (2011 dollars), 2007-2011 | $28,924 |
$29,376 |
| Median household income, 2007-2011 | $58,769 |
$56,576 |
| Persons below poverty level, percent, 2007-2011 | 7.6% |
13.1% |
Some facts on the demographic makeup of Oak Lawn:
| Oak Lawn | State | |
| Language other than English spoken at home, percent age 5+, 2007-2011 | 26.4% |
22.0% |
| High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2007-2011 | 86.4% |
86.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2007-2011 | 25.1% |
30.7% |
| Veterans, 2007-2011 | 3,827 |
770,388 |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2007-2011 | 30.1 |
28.1 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
Compare the numbers in Evergreen Park and Chicago.
Pat F
1:50 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
The education numbers are tied directly to the people who don't speak English that necessitate more specialty teachers and programs. Education time is shortened when time has to be made because this children speak very little English or None at all. Schools are losing some excellent teachers because the gov't requires some teachers to be bi-lingual so these students understand..I believe these students deserve an education but not at the expense of the English speaking students whose education is now falling behind..The students(and their parents especially) should attend classes after school or on weekends to learn English not only for their education but also for everyday use.. THIS IS AMERICA!! The language is ENGLISH!! It's time the gov't steps back and sees how they are lowering the standards for Our children's education only to accommodate the few who need these programs! You are entitled to an education, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the students who could excel and go on to college!!
OakLawnGuy
8:27 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Would the lower pct of bachelor's degree holders in town also reflect the fact that many who live here are in trades, not professions?
OakLawnWoman
11:11 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
I agree with Pat F. You hit the nail on the head. This is America and the language is English!
OakLawnWoman
11:22 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
I would love to see that census show all the people in Oak Lawn that RENT multi family homes and keep having babies and not working and sitting back and collecting from the state and living in a foreclosed home for the past 3 years and not paying a dime and cramming as many as 10 people in a little 2 bedroom, 1 bath apt. I would like State to start cracking down on that or maybe put a cap on having babies and get these
OakLawnWoman
11:23 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
And go after these people.