Go figure

It’s a bad rap: When North Siders think of Hyde Park, many automatically think higher crime rate. In fact, Hyde Park had the sixth-lowest number of violent crimes out of Chicago’s 25 police districts in 2008—and a lower total than Evanston (albeit in a smaller geographic area). Here are some other numbers that might surprise you.

Percentage of population age 18–34 (2010 projection)
Evanston 34.1
Hyde Park 40.7

Percentage of town/neighborhood owned by the local university
Northwestern/Evanston 5
University of Chicago/Hyde Park 21

Total crimes reported in 2008
Evanston 3,038 (24.4 per capita)
Hyde Park 1,220 (24.3 per capita)

Violent crime incidents in 2008
Evanston 299
Hyde Park 236

Median rent (2010 projection)
Evanston $914
Hyde Park $665

Median family income (2010 projection)
Evanston $105,318
Hyde Park $119,565

Figures from Metro Chicago Information Center, mcfol.org