ROGERS PARK — A new national economic report shows the 60626 ZIP code in Rogers Park represents the most "distressed" residents north of Diversey Avenue in Chicago.
The report comes from the Washington D.C.-based Economic Innovation Group, as part of its "Distressed Communities Index," a study that looked at the well-being of residents in 26,000 ZIP codes across the United States to determine a "distress score."
The report looks at data between 2010-13 and considers factors such as a ZIP code's level of residents without a high school degree, housing vacancy rates, how many adults are jobless, poverty rate, income, change in employment and change in businesses.
In Rogers Park, the 60626 ZIP code scored better than the state average when it came to having less adults who were out of work (37 percent), and a better trend of business development (4.8 percent) — but fell short in other crucial areas.
The biggest contrast between Rogers Park and surrounding communities, as well as when compared to the state, was a 12.3 percent dip in unemployment. On average, Illinois employment grew by 4.6 percent during the same time period.
Other stats showed 14 percent of the neighborhood's housing was vacant, about 27 percent of residents lived in poverty, and 16 percent of residents lacked a high school degree — as compared with 12 percent statewide.
Based on the organization's definition of "distressed," nearly 40 percent of Chicagoans live in distressed ZIP codes.
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