Hyde Park regarded as safer than nearby areas

Chicago’s South Side is famous for its diverse culture, historic neighborhoods and rich music. Despite this, the area is also challenged with the underlying assumption that those who reside in it are from low-income households.

While the average income on Chicago’s South Side is lower than that of the city as a whole, the area is often assumed to be exclusively lower income, and the income discrepancies that exist are often overlooked.

The median income of the South Side is $39,798, while the median income of the city as a whole is $62,097, according to a 2022 census from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency For Planning.

Hyde Park households have a median income of $52,423, nearly identical to that of Kenwood families. In comparison, households in the Woodlawn area have a median income of $27,541, according to the same census. Despite the varying economic situations, many students and residents assume that income in the South Side is equal across the board.

According to senior Ege Halac, who lives in Woodlawn, there is a disparity in wealth among the South Side, which can partly be attributed to expansion from the University of Chicago.

“The university also built some dorms really close so I think that this leads to that disparity and I think that definitely exists,” Ege said. “Especially since there is a limited area around the university and the university does need to expand their residents.”

Additionally, both neighborhoods have a significant discrepancy in wealth, something that is often overlooked, as the areas are stereotyped as low income: 16.2% of Hyde Park households make over $150,000, as do 4.3% of Woodlawn households.

Ninth grader Daniel Chang, who moved to Hyde Park from the western suburbs at the beginning of the school year, believes there is a presumption of a lower socioeconomic status for families that live on the South Side.

“I think there definitely is an assumption of poverty if you live [on the South Side],” Daniel said. “There have been comments from my friends from my previous school.”

Sophomore Lyra Luu, who has lived in Hyde Park her entire life, acknowledges the assumption that the South Side is less wealthy than the North Side. She also believes that Hyde Park is unique from other neighborhoods in the South Side because of gentrification in areas near the university.

“Stereotypes about the South Side are that it’s the less wealthy side of Chicago in comparison to the North Side,” she said, “but I think it’s sort of different in Hyde Park, because Hyde Park is sort of gentrified, just because it’s right by the university.”