Matteson Demographics (Chicago, Orland Park, Harvey: low crime, mortgage, houses)

[lentzr]

I was watching some old videos from NBC on demographic change and race relations. One video caught my attention as very interesting. It was the NBC news segment with Bryant Gumble from 1996 dealing with the demographics of Matteson IL. It turns out that other news stations also addressed that issue that year. Anyway, in the particular segment on Matteson, Il, the community was portrayed as a "quiet, low crime community" 30 miles south of Chicago. It says that it used to be mostly white, but by 1996 it was around half black and half white.

Now, I looked at the data on CD and read some of the posts on Matteson. It certainly does not look "low crime." It doesn't appear to be dangerous like Detroit, but there certainly are areas for improvement. Also, the comments on the community does not appear good either. Hence, I am left with the question...Why has Matteson been portrayed so positively by the media if not all is well? Secondly, is the white flight continuing on to this day? In 1996, it was almost half white and half black. What is it like in 2010? Is the city still trying to gain white residents?

Now, I did see the homes in Matteson on Realtor.com. It looks like you can get a good deal on a decent home. They seem to be quite affordable for large homes. I understand that Matteson may not be perfect, but affordability often leads to gentrification in many cities. Why not Matteson? Unless you are looking for good schools, why has Matteson not attracted young professionals (often white) looking for a good deal on a home?

What I am trying to understand is why is Matteson facing "white flight" so much? Why is there not gentrification? Why is Matteson portrayed so well by the media but not by the people here in CD? I just can't see what is happening. Are so many whites leaving Matteson because of race? Why are not young white people moving in? I just can't put my finger on what is happening in Matteson since there is such a discrepancy being the news cast and what I read on CD.

[ajolotl]

You seem to have answered some of your own question. If the schools aren't good, young professionals couples are not going to prefer the area (most people moving that far out have or intend to start families). If it is not "low crime", people with any choice will prefer even a smaller home in the cheaper parts of areas like Tinley and Orland Park. Also, yes, many white people see few good examples of top notch black areas and in part probably create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Of course there are racists, too, but that's far from the whole story.

[lentzr]

But what is Matteson like now? What are the demographics in 2010? I only saw the 2000 Census online.

[seastar311]

Well, we'll need to wait for the census results to know for sure, but my part of Matteson (the original part) seems to be 50/50 White and Black, with a few Hispanic families and some interracial families. It began as an all White area, and some have moved out; many have not. Other areas of town look to be mostly Black families. These have newer homes which have always had Black owners. As the town got bigger both in area and in population, Black families bought homes in the new parts of town- they have not displaced White families as in some towns.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by lentzr

I was watching some old videos from NBC on demographic change and race relations. One video caught my attention as very interesting. It was the NBC news segment with Bryant Gumble from 1996 dealing with the demographics of Matteson IL. It turns out that other news stations also addressed that issue that year. Anyway, in the particular segment on Matteson, Il, the community was portrayed as a "quiet, low crime community" 30 miles south of Chicago. It says that it used to be mostly white, but by 1996 it was around half black and half white.

Now, I looked at the data on CD and read some of the posts on Matteson. It certainly does not look "low crime." It doesn't appear to be dangerous like Detroit, but there certainly are areas for improvement. Also, the comments on the community does not appear good either. Hence, I am left with the question...Why has Matteson been portrayed so positively by the media if not all is well? Secondly, is the white flight continuing on to this day? In 1996, it was almost half white and half black. What is it like in 2010? Is the city still trying to gain white residents?

Now, I did see the homes in Matteson on Realtor.com. It looks like you can get a good deal on a decent home. They seem to be quite affordable for large homes. I understand that Matteson may not be perfect, but affordability often leads to gentrification in many cities. Why not Matteson? Unless you are looking for good schools, why has Matteson not attracted young professionals (often white) looking for a good deal on a home?

What I am trying to understand is why is Matteson facing "white flight" so much? Why is there not gentrification? Why is Matteson portrayed so well by the media but not by the people here in CD? I just can't see what is happening. Are so many whites leaving Matteson because of race? Why are not young white people moving in? I just can't put my finger on what is happening in Matteson since there is such a discrepancy being the news cast and what I read on CD.

Lets first say Matteson is middle class, with pockets of upper middle class in the subdivisions. I have an elderly relative who live in Matteson and her block is quiet. Matteson population has increased almost 35% between the year 2000 and 2008. So its not suffering a population decrease, except for white residents. As for how white Matteson is, it was 31% in 2000. I think now its like 25-29% at most.

[deechee]

I like Matteson. Nothing wrong with it to me. I go through all parts of Matteson very frequently. I have many friends and family that live there, and they have never had a problem. When I read the police blotter, I see petty crime, but nothing major.

I'd live there if I wanted to. But I like where I am now lol

[befaythful]

What I am trying to understand is why is Matteson facing "white flight" so much? Why is there not gentrification? Why is Matteson portrayed so well by the media but not by the people here in CD? I just can't see what is happening. Are so many whites leaving Matteson because of race? Why are not young white people moving in? I just can't put my finger on what is happening in Matteson since there is such a discrepancy being the news cast and what I read on CD.

I know I am a late comer to this conversation. I am a grad student, white, early 30s. My wife and I recently found Matteson (we are new to the Chicago area). From our many visits and looking around, we found the village to have an old town charm. (We have been looking at houses in the Old Matteson area). The area seems to be diverse, and peaceful. We like that it is close to shopping and restaurants on 30, however, also a short walk to the train. We just put a bid in on a house and are hoping to have our offer accepted. I just wanted to comment, because I think that we fit your description of those you were wondering about moving in. So here's one couple that's hoping to do so

[pvande55]

What is the correct pronunciation? I believe it is "Matt-son." I have heard it pronounced with three syllables, but then it gets confused with Madison WI.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by befaythful

I know I am a late comer to this conversation. I am a grad student, white, early 30s. My wife and I recently found Matteson (we are new to the Chicago area). From our many visits and looking around, we found the village to have an old town charm. (We have been looking at houses in the Old Matteson area). The area seems to be diverse, and peaceful. We like that it is close to shopping and restaurants on 30, however, also a short walk to the train. We just put a bid in on a house and are hoping to have our offer accepted. I just wanted to comment, because I think that we fit your description of those you were wondering about moving in. So here's one couple that's hoping to do so

Good luck.. I don't doubt you guys will make a good home for yourself in Old Matteson. It is very charming and peaceful town and a nice place for a couple of any race to raise a family.

You will find that there's very little diversity in some of the other parts of town though.. The area close to the Library is virtually all black, for instance. NO PART OF TOWN is unsafe at all..

[DADASGIRL]

In my opinion its the result of non existent job opportunity in the south burbs as a whole. Sure the not so great south burbs like Dolton/Harvey (who all but a mortgage term ago were low crime areas too) are a deterrent - but actual industry in that area is at an all time low.

Sure there are SOME jobs - I'll be generous and say that maybe 40% of the middle class residents work within 20 miles of their home. Then lets say another 20% work downtown Chicago or similar area thats a guaranteed 1hr commute away. If you dont like the commute time and cant find work at the companies closest to Matteson - then what do you do?

Look at the major firms & corp offices northern IL has to offer. Matteson just isnt close proximity to the majority of them. I moved from the southside of Chicago to the NW burbs for this very reason. Considering people job hop more than they used to - living in the midst of numerous corp offices can appeal to many people looking to plant roots. I know people living in Wrigleyville commuting to Lincolnshire everyday - now if you were that person would you move to Matteson or closer to Lincolnshire?