Downtown Evanston
Suburban Neighborhood in Evanston, Illinois
Cook County 60201
Art Deco to high-rise apartments
There's a mix of historical and contemporary styles within this waterfront cityscape. "We have a good spread of different architecture, from hundred-year-old lakefront mansions to modern attached condominiums," Marin says. Townhouses, condominiums and apartment blocks line major thoroughfares, sharing curb appeal with modern mid- and high-rises. Apartments make up close to 50% of the property mix.Vintage and historical single-family homes include Tudor Revival and Art Deco styles, plus features like wainscoting, original hardwood flooring, fireplaces and spacious windows. The average listing price in the area is just under $500,000. Twenty percent of homes fall under $200,000 and about 5% are over $1.3 million.
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Parks like Centennial and Raymond
Within walking distance of most downtown homes, Lake Michigan's shoreline is the star. The Northwestern Sailing Center rents out catamarans, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards and windsurfing and sailing lessons are also popular. Public beaches are open during warmer months, with free season passes for those living in specific ZIP codes.A lovely spot for waterside picnics, Clark Street Beach offers volleyball courts. Dog Beach is a favorite for water frolics or off-leash socializing in a fenced area. Centennial Park is the place for a lakeside walk to the peninsula on Northwestern's campus.
Amid the manicured green spaces of Raymond Park, there's a playground with an abstract climbing sculpture.
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Public schools include giant ETHS
Children residing in Downtown Evanston may attend public schools like Dewey Elementary, graded A-minus by Niche and Nichols Middle, graded B-plus. Evanston Township High, graded A-plus, is No. 23 in the state, according to Niche. With more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor space, ETHS is the largest single-building high school in the country. Some highlights of the 65-acre campus include a planetarium, greenhouse, swimming pools and tennis courts.There are many private schools in the Evanston area. One of these, Beacon Academy, graded A-plus, is located downtown. It combines an International Baccalaureate curriculum with Montessori principles for ninth through 12th grade.
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Do's in Downtown Evanston
There are plenty of things to do downtown. Fountain Square's annual Fall Festival offers live music, kids' art activities, ice cream and coffee trucks, food vendors and a maker's market. The Holiday Bazaar hosted by the Woman's Club of Evanston showcases 50 curated vendors of handmade goods. The Young Evanston Artists festival, or YEA!, is held on the third Saturday of May at Raymond Park.The L, Divvy bikes and Metra
The Chicago Transit Authority Purple Line L trains run all day between the Chicago Loop and seven stops in Downtown Evanston. The CTA also runs bus routes. Evanston Davis Street Metra station has service on the Union Pacific North line. Traveling south, Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center is the fifth stop from Evanston. Going north, it's about 50 miles to Kenosha, Wisconsin, the only Metra stop outside Illinois. There's a Divvy bike share station, plus spots for bike racks, dedicated lanes and tune-up stations. O'Hare International Airport is about 15 miles away.
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Picnic pick up, deep-dish circa 1974
Downtown Evanston offers eateries, small businesses, big-box stores, hotels and more. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market are right near home. Cupitol Coffee & Eatery serves fresh-baked goods, cold-press juices and all-day brunch. For lunch on the go, pick something up at Picnic, where the menu's full of healthy fare.Giordano's, which started in 1974 in the South Side of Chicago, now has 45 locations in Illinois. Their stuffed deep-dish pizza has received accolades from the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, Eater and more.
Young actors get on stage at Mudlark Theater Company, a non-profit offering camps and classes for youth. For a movie night out, AMC Evanston 12 supplies the flicks.
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Northwestern adds college-town flavor
An integral part of Evanston is Northwestern University, just north of downtown. It's the No. 1 college in Illinois, according to Niche. The 240-acre campus links to the much smaller Chicago campus, about 12 miles away, via a free shuttle. The university has approximately 23,000 students and 2,500 faculty members and is Evanston's largest employer.
Written By
Robin Silberman
Photography Contributed By
Joe Kirsch
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Shawn Jones
Shawn Jones
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
(708) 905-8737
93 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Evanston
$440,000 Price
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Erik Schwab
Erik Schwab
Responds QuicklyCorcoran Urban Real Estate
(312) 957-7984
94 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Evanston
$261,500 Price
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Rose Hoffmann
Rose Hoffmann
Baird & Warner
(224) 282-0274
89 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Evanston
$205,000 Price
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Mary Summerville
Mary Summerville
Coldwell Banker
(630) 931-8695
362 Total Sales
31 in Downtown Evanston
$170K - $920K Price Range
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Herbert Straus
Herbert Straus
Keller Williams Thrive
(224) 231-0982
148 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Evanston
$340,000 Price
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David Mishel
David Mishel
Responds QuicklyCompass
(773) 341-2997
158 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Evanston
$352,500 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Parks in this Area
Hobart Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Merrick Rose Garden
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Botanical Gardens
Penny Park
- Trails
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Centennial Park
- Trails
Fountain Square
Oldberg Park
- Trails
Dawes Park
- Bike Trails
- Trails
Lawson Park
- Trails
- Playground
Burnham Shores Park
- Boating
- Tennis
- Trails
Transit
Airport
Chicago O'Hare International
29 min drive
Train
Evanston Davis Street Station
Subway
Davis Station
Bus
Chicago Ave & Lake St
Bus
Davis & Orrington
Bus
Davis St & Oak Ave
Bus
Davis Cta Station
Bus
Church St & Maple Ave
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Evanston | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 7 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 8 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Evanston Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Evanston, Evanston sell after 19 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Evanston, Evanston over the last 12 months is $413,750, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$425,000
Median Sale Price
$413,750
Median Single Family Sale Price
$577,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$599,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$438,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
92
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
9%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$358
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,274
Number of Homes for Sale
17
Median Year Built
2003
Months of Supply
2.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,576
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,618
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,207
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
791
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$2,442 - $4,800 per month
- Avidor Evanston 55+ Active Adult Apartment...
- 1-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 564+ Sq Ft
- 1727 Oak Ave
- Evanston, IL
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$2,650 - $3,965 per month
- The Scholar Apartments
- Studio-3 Beds
- 1-3 Baths
- 566+ Sq Ft
- 1590 Elmwood Ave
- Evanston, IL
Condo Buildings
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
8,131
Median Age
35
Population Density
32 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$62,789
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$87,205
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.9%
College Graduates
83.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
43.5%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
51.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
92
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
98
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
62
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Northeast Evanston
Evanston's residential university town along the lake
Ridge
Classic homes and parks along a major Evanston thoroughfare
Southeast Evanston
A longstanding community with immediate access to Lake Michigan and Chicago Avenue
West Evanston
Evanston's historic neighborhood with ongoing construction
West Village
Evanston's grassroots arts district packed with galleries, studios and spirit
North Evanston
Varied homes and connections to Northwestern University campus
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