Industry

Real Estate

Focus

Assess the daytime working population and commuter patterns for an automatic carwash site

ZIP Codes

60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60610, 60611, 60654

Demographic Analysis Report: Downtown Chicago Automatic Carwash Site Assessment

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the demographic characteristics of 10 downtown Chicago ZIP codes (60601-60611, 60654) to assess the daytime working population and commuter patterns for an automatic carwash site location. The analysis reveals a highly educated, affluent urban professional population with mixed transportation patterns that present both opportunities and challenges for an automatic carwash business. The area shows significant variation in key metrics across ZIP codes, with some areas heavily reliant on walking and public transit while others show higher vehicle ownership rates.

Key Demographic Findings

Working Population Characteristics

The analyzed area contains approximately 129,405 total workers across all ZIP codes, with significant variation by location. The largest concentrations are in ZIP codes 60610 (30,277 workers) and 60611 (23,895 workers), while smaller areas like 60604 contain only 389 workers.

Employment patterns show a highly stable workforce, with 74.6% of the adult population employed (neighborhood average) and very low unemployment at 3.8% (neighborhood average). The workforce is predominantly private sector employees (88.7% neighborhood average), with relatively few government workers (6.9% neighborhood average) or self-employed individuals (4.4% neighborhood average).

Vehicle Ownership and Transportation Patterns

Vehicle availability presents a mixed picture for carwash demand. On average, 44.7% of households have no vehicles available (neighborhood average), while 45.5% have one vehicle (neighborhood average). Only 9.0% of households own two vehicles, and just 0.7% own three or more vehicles (neighborhood averages).

Commuting patterns reveal the urban nature of this area:

20.3% drive alone to work (neighborhood average)
17.8% use public transportation (neighborhood average)
28.3% walk to work (neighborhood average)
28.0% work from home (neighborhood average)
Only 1.6% carpool (neighborhood average)

The weighted centroid analysis shows slightly higher driving rates, with 22.5% driving alone to work, suggesting areas with higher populations have somewhat more vehicle-dependent commuters.

Income and Affluence Levels

The area demonstrates high affluence, with significant high-income representation:

28.1% of households earn $200,000 or more (neighborhood average)
19.2% earn $100,000-$149,999 (neighborhood average)
12.2% earn $150,000-$199,999 (neighborhood average)

Combined, over 59% of households earn six-figure incomes. The weighted centroid shows an even more affluent profile, with 29.0% of households earning $200,000+ and 19.2% earning $100,000-$149,999.

Professional and Industry Composition

The workforce is highly educated and professional, with 75.8% employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations (neighborhood average). The weighted centroid shows a similar 75.4% in professional occupations.

Key industries employing the workforce include:

Professional, scientific, and management services: 30.8% (neighborhood average)
Educational services and healthcare: 24.6% (neighborhood average)
Finance, insurance, and real estate: 15.5% (neighborhood average)

Target Audience Characteristics

Based on the weighted centroid analysis, the typical demographic profile represents areas where the concentrated population exhibits the following characteristics:

Transportation Behavior: The composite profile shows 22.5% drive alone to work, significantly higher than some individual ZIP codes but still below suburban norms. Public transportation usage is substantial at 17.7%, while 23.7% walk to work and 28.0% work from home.

Vehicle Ownership: The weighted profile indicates 42.9% of households have no vehicles, 47.7% have one vehicle, and 8.3% have two vehicles. This suggests the target audience lives in areas where car ownership is mixed, with many households owning at least one vehicle despite urban location.

Economic Profile: The audience comes from highly affluent areas, with 29.0% of households earning $200,000+ annually and 59.3% earning $100,000 or more. This high disposable income suggests potential demand for premium car care services.

Professional Demographics: The audience originates from areas where 75.4% work in professional occupations, primarily in business services (30.9%), healthcare/education (22.9%), and finance/real estate (15.8%). This professional workforce likely values convenience and time-saving services.

Work Patterns: With 77.1% in the labor force and 87.8% of households having earnings, the areas represent economically active communities with regular commuting patterns, though 28.0% work from home.

Variable	Average	National Avg	vs. National	Range
In labor force	77.1%	63.9%	+13.2%	67.4% – 95.0%
Civilian labor force	77.1%	63.5%	+13.6%	67.4% – 95.0%
Employed	73.4%	60.2%	+13.2%	59.6% – 92.3%
Unemployed	3.7%	3.3%	+0.4%	1.5% – 7.8%
Armed Forces	0.0%	0.4%	-0.4%	0.0% – 0.2%
Not in labor force	22.9%	36.1%	-13.2%	5.0% – 32.6%

Variable	Average	National Avg	vs. National	Range
Car, truck, or van -- drove alone	22.5%	70.4%	-47.9%	7.2% – 32.1%
Car, truck, or van -- carpooled	2.6%	8.6%	-6.0%	0.0% – 4.4%
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)	17.7%	3.6%	+14.1%	8.7% – 31.6%
Walked	23.7%	2.1%	+21.6%	9.5% – 48.4%
Other means	5.5%	1.9%	+3.6%	0.0% – 8.2%
Worked from home	28.0%	13.4%	+14.6%	25.1% – 32.8%

Variable	Average	National Avg	vs. National	Range
Management, business, science, and arts occupations	75.4%	41.7%	+33.7%	52.0% – 88.2%
Service occupations	6.1%	16.7%	-10.6%	2.6% – 16.5%
Sales and office occupations	15.0%	20.1%	-5.1%	9.2% – 18.0%
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	0.6%	8.5%	-7.9%	0.0% – 9.8%
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	2.7%	13.1%	-10.4%	0.0% – 12.6%

Variable	Average	National Avg	vs. National	Range
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining	0.2%	1.4%	-1.2%	0.0% – 0.8%
Construction	1.1%	6.9%	-5.8%	0.0% – 2.6%
Manufacturing	5.0%	9.9%	-4.9%	2.7% – 11.9%
Wholesale trade	1.9%	2.3%	-0.4%	0.0% – 2.3%
Retail trade	4.5%	10.9%	-6.4%	0.6% – 5.2%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities	3.3%	5.9%	-2.6%	1.5% – 10.1%
Information	3.0%	1.9%	+1.1%	0.0% – 4.3%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing	15.8%	6.7%	+9.1%	8.8% – 26.3%
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services	30.9%	12.4%	+18.5%	24.9% – 42.1%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance	22.9%	23.3%	-0.4%	15.3% – 47.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services	6.1%	8.9%	-2.8%	0.0% – 9.9%
Other services, except public administration	2.6%	4.7%	-2.1%	0.8% – 3.8%
Public administration	2.7%	4.7%	-2.0%	0.0% – 5.6%

Variable	Average	National Avg	vs. National	Range
Private wage and salary workers	87.8%	79.6%	+8.2%	82.4% – 94.4%
Government workers	8.4%	14.4%	-6.0%	2.1% – 14.3%
Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers	3.7%	5.9%	-2.2%	0.0% – 10.5%
Unpaid family workers	0.1%	0.2%	-0.1%	0.0% – 0.8%

Demographic Analysis Report: Downtown Chicago Automatic Carwash Site Assessment

Executive Summary

Key Demographic Findings

Working Population Characteristics

Vehicle Ownership and Transportation Patterns

Income and Affluence Levels

Professional and Industry Composition

Target Audience Characteristics

AI Recommendations

Target Geographic Zones

Primary Audience Segments

Marketing Channel Strategy

Messaging and Positioning

Service Strategy Recommendations

Employment Status

Commuting to Work

Occupation

Industry

Class of Worker

Income & Benefits

Vehicles Available

Data Visualizations

Occupation Breakdown

Employment Status

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Commuting to Work

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Occupation

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Industry

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Class of Worker

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Income & Benefits

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Vehicles Available

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Commuting To Work — Car, truck, or van -- drove alone

Interactive Maps Across All Categories

Variable	Average	National Avg	vs. National	Range
Less than $10,000	6.0%	4.9%	+1.1%	0.0% – 15.1%
$10,000 to $14,999	2.1%	3.5%	-1.4%	0.0% – 4.1%
$15,000 to $24,999	3.3%	6.5%	-3.2%	0.0% – 4.6%
$25,000 to $34,999	3.4%	6.8%	-3.4%	0.0% – 9.6%
$35,000 to $49,999	5.0%	10.5%	-5.5%	0.0% – 14.7%
$50,000 to $74,999	9.1%	15.8%	-6.7%	3.1% – 23.0%
$75,000 to $99,999	11.0%	12.7%	-1.7%	0.0% – 21.1%
$100,000 to $149,999	19.2%	17.5%	+1.7%	5.7% – 31.0%
$150,000 to $199,999	12.1%	9.3%	+2.8%	1.3% – 16.7%
$200,000 or more	29.0%	12.4%	+16.6%	22.0% – 33.6%
With earnings	87.0%	78.0%	+9.0%	82.9% – 98.7%
With Social Security	12.9%	30.8%	-17.9%	3.4% – 28.2%
With retirement income	12.7%	24.0%	-11.3%	4.2% – 35.5%
With Supplemental Security Income	1.8%	5.1%	-3.3%	0.0% – 3.9%
With cash public assistance income	1.6%	2.7%	-1.1%	0.0% – 7.1%
With Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the past 12 months	4.9%	12.0%	-7.1%	0.0% – 9.6%