Politics & Government

La Grange Increases Affordable Housing

It no longer must submit a housing plan because it crossed the state threshold.

According to a state report, 13.2 percent of La Grange's housing is considered affordable, up from 9.4 percent in 2013.
According to a state report, 13.2 percent of La Grange's housing is considered affordable, up from 9.4 percent in 2013. (Google Maps)

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange has about 250 more affordable housing units than it did a decade ago, according to state figures.

Last year, La Grange had 754 affordable housing units out of a total of 5,332 units, according to an Illinois Housing Development Authority report.

That works out to 13.2 percent, up from 9.4 percent in 2013. Last year's rate compares to 2.1 percent in Western Springs, 3.7 percent in Hinsdale and 4.5 percent in Burr Ridge.

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La Grange has 373 more total units than it did a decade ago.

Of more than 1,300 towns in Illinois, La Grange ranks as having the 58th lowest rate of affordable housing, the state report said. As of 2022, the median price for a La Grange housing unit was $547,000.

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To determine affordable housing rates, the state calculates the number of owner-occupied units that are affordable to households with incomes less than 80 percent of a metro area's median. The threshold is less than 60 percent for rental units.

Under state law, any town with less than 10 percent affordable housing must submit a plan to the state. Given that La Grange is above that threshold, the requirement no longer applies.

Here are the percentages of affordable housing in selected towns over the last decade:

Town201320182023
Burr Ridge2.2%3.3%4.5%
Clarendon Hillsn.a.14.1%14.2%
Darienn.a.17.9%20.9%
Elmhurst9.3%8.2%9.4%
Hinsdale4.2%3.3%3.7%
La Grange9.4%8.5%13.2%
Western Springs1.2%1.5%2.1%

Here are the numbers of affordable housing units out of the total units in selected towns over the last decade:

Town201320182023
Burr Ridge82/3,803144/4,338201/4,506
Clarendon Hillsn.a.450/3,192640/3,248
Darienn.a.1,563/8,7501,835/8,770
Elmhurst1,447/15,5051,278/15,5351,550/16,476
Hinsdale 226/5,373184/5,533208/5,700
La Grange499/5,332448/5,277754/5,705
Western Springs50/4,12564/4,34695/4,510

n.a.: not available

Source: Illinois Housing Development Authority


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