1-6: Current Distribution of Housing Type

Along the Ridgeland Avenue corridor, two Tapestry Segmentations are represented: Diverse Convergence (13A) and Urban Villages (7B). Within the designated area of .04 square miles, these two profiles account for 99.5% of the Ridgeland Alternatives Area. This geography represents 1.02% of all Berwyn households, as well as 2.38% of Berwyn’s Diverse Convergence households and 1.11% of Berwyn’s Urban Villages households.

Diverse Convergence Characteristics Diverse Convergence households indicate dense urban areas with plural experiences. The majority proportion of these households tend to be Hispanic or non-Hispanic White. On average, a household’s size is just over 3 persons with a median household income of $46,500. Diverse Convergence families are young–a median age of 32.8. The segment’s family structures are varied; many are multigenerational households or married couples and single parents. 40% of the Diverse Convergence population are immigrants, and 20% of households have at least one family member who does not speak English. As such, Spanish-language news, media, and entertainment is very popular.

There is a 67% rate of employment participation for these households that fuels a hard-working consumption lifestyle. They take jobs in service industries or building maintenance, but some may have traditional white collar jobs. While the “median household income is lower, home values are higher, reflecting the metropolitan areas in which they live,” (Esri). Even so, Diverse Convergence households have limited resources for investing, to save, and other financial options. Both multifamily structures and single-family housing are where these households live, with an average rent of $1,191. Family outings, like visits to the beach, theme park trips, and outdoor recreation are common. Urban Villages Characteristics Urban Villages households are culturally similar to their Diverse Convergence neighbors, but have slight differences in purchasing power and consumer behavior. Urban Villages households are typically multilingual and multigenerational, the overwhelming majority of whom are Hispanic.

On average, a household’s size is 3.78 persons with a median household income of $62,300 and a median age of 34. Urban Villages households generally include married couples with children also sharing living spaces with grandparents. Single family housing is the typical structure for Urban Villages. Recent immigrants and residents who navigate language barriers are also a part of this segment.

Many Urban Villages family members are employed in office and administrative support, production, transportation and material moving, sales and related industries, or construction and extraction. As such, the median net worth for these households, aggregating total assets, is higher than the national average, at $122,700. These households are status-conscious consumers that are aware of trends, brand preferences (but not loyalty), and a willingness to try new products and services, including technology innovations.Relatedly, their media preferences may vary, as well as fashion and clothing decisions. Saving money is a lower priority than spending. Family outings remain equally important; water and theme parks, movie nights, gardening, and team sports are common.

Resident Expenditures The below table shows select resident expenditures for the year of 2021.48 With the exception of home mortgages (not included on this table), food accounts for the largest expenditure for area residents. Of the $1,573,095 spent on food, $662,369 is spent on food away from home. Given that the corridor is only home to three food service & accommodation establishments, this could indicate an appetite for more restaurants in the area. Another major expenditure for residents falls under entertainment and recreation. This category includes fees and admissions to movies, theaters, museums, sporting events, and the like; as well as pets, hobbies, and more. As such, businesses that provide entertainment to residents should be further explored.

Table 1-2: Ridgeland Corridor Resident Expenditures by Category, 2021.