Latinos in the Western Suburbs of Chicago
Executive Summary
This ArcGIS-based data resource presents a comprehensive demographic and socioeconomic portrait of Latino communities in Chicago’s western suburbs, encompassing 36 municipalities across western Cook County and eastern DuPage County. Nearly 200,000 Latinos live in this region—almost one in three residents—making Latinos a central force shaping the social, economic, and cultural fabric of these communities. Through interactive maps, data visualizations, and community-level indicators, the resource highlights population trends, household characteristics, and economic conditions that influence health and wellness outcomes for individuals and families.
The study area reflects the combined service regions of the Community Memorial Foundation (CMF) and the Healthy Communities Foundation (HCF), two philanthropic organizations committed to improving access to healthcare and wellness resources. By integrating data across jurisdictions, the ArcGIS platform enables a regional view of how social and economic conditions vary between communities, helping users identify shared challenges, localized disparities, and opportunities for targeted investment.
For consistency with source data, the term “Latino” is used to align with the U.S. Census category “Hispanic or Latino.” While acknowledging the use of “Latinx” and “Latine” in other contexts, this resource does not privilege one term over another. Overall, this interactive ArcGIS platform serves as a flexible, accessible tool for funders, service providers, policymakers, and community leaders seeking to advance equitable health, wellness, and opportunity across Chicago’s western suburbs.