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Solutions for Chicago, built on data and expertise.

A free, nonpartisan place to find and weigh ideas for Chicago's future. Each topic draws on the insights of researchers, civic groups and local experts, with credible data, comparisons with peer cities, and the strongest arguments for and against each proposal.

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What's inside

13 issues, each with the data and the debate

Every topic page shows 5, 10 and 20-year trends, how Chicago compares with the 10 largest U.S. cities, and three ideas with the case for and against each one.

Government and taxesTaxes, spending, pensions and how City Hall works

Public safetyCrime trends by type, neighborhood and year

HousingSupply, prices, rents and who can afford to stay

EducationEnrollment, outcomes and school funding

ImmigrationNewcomers, the asylum-seeker arrivals and city and state policy

Economy and jobsGrowth, employers and the regional workforce

HomelessnessHow many people are homeless, shelters and supportive housing

BudgetWhere the city's money comes from and where it goes

TransitRidership, service and how people get around

HealthLife expectancy and access to care

PopulationWho is moving in, who is moving out, and why

ClimateThe lake, heat, flooding and energy

LivabilityArts, culture, dining, sports, parks and walkability

BenchmarksHow Chicago ranks against the 10 largest U.S. cities

Data deep divesSegregation, mayors, Chicago Public Schools and the police department

Plus 77 neighborhoodsA map of every community area and ward, with data you can sort

How it works

Built to inform, not to persuade

Multiple credible sources

Data from the city, the Census, Brookings Metro, the Chicago Fed, university researchers and local newsrooms, with every number linked to where it came from.

Both sides of every idea

For each proposal, we show the strongest arguments for and against, who cares about it and why, and what you gain and give up.

Your ideas count

Vote on the ideas you find most promising, comment, and submit your own. Reading is always free, with no ads and no paywall.