Ridge
Neighborhood in Evanston, Illinois
Cook County 60201, 60202
Residential blocks along Ridge Avenue
Picturesque single-family homes sit on cul-de-sacs and residential lanes splitting off from Ridge Avenue and surrounding streets. Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Prairie and Italianate styles dating as far back as the 1860s and 1870s are still present today. A few ranch-style homes and mid-20th-century properties are also mixed among the older homes. Single-family homes typically start at about $740,000 and top out near $1.5 million.Condo units are also available in the neighborhood. Early 20th century properties with brick exteriors and traditional features are accompanied by condo buildings from the 1960s and 1970s. Individual units generally sell from $180,000 to $460,000, while whole buildings go from $1.2 million to $2.2 million. Noise levels throughout the area may be higher due to high traffic near Ridge Avenue, one of the city’s major roads.
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Vibrant plant life in Merrick Park’s rose garden
A playground, picnic tables and swings sit under the shade of tall oaks at Alexander Park. A few blocks south at Merrick Park, the walkways of the Merrick Rose Garden feature more than 200 varieties of roses and perennial flowers that bloom from May to October. The centrally located Larimer Park was remodeled in 2024. Improvements to the facilities include a newly built playground, a dog park and a refurbished basketball court. To the neighborhood’s west, Penny Park’s distinctive wooden jungle gym sets it apart from other playgrounds. The park gets its name from the loose change that children in the community donated in the early 1990s to establish the park. Locals are also close to Gray Park on the neighborhood’s south end.
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A-grade learning at Evanston public schools
Students in the neighborhood are split between two elementary schools: students on the north side attend Dewey Elementary School and students to the south are zoned for Washington Elementary School. Niche grades the schools A and A-minus, respectively. Both feed into Nichols Middle School, which also receives an A-minus. Evanston Township High School has 36 Advanced Placement courses across seven departments, which include African American studies, photography and graphic design, and computer science. The school earns an A-plus.North of the neighborhood, Northwestern University gets an A-plus grade. The university offers graduate degrees, programs and certificates across more than 170 disciplines, and landed at No. 6 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best colleges in the country in 2024.
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Fresh brews, live tunes and family fun near Downtown Evanston
Craft beer is the main attraction at Sketchbook Brewing, a taproom on Chicago Avenue situated across from the Main Street Metra station. It hosts weekly trivia nights and periodic events like karaoke and drag bingo. Live music fans are less than 1 mile away from Evanston Space, a staple of Evanston’s concert scene since 2008. Bands take the stage throughout the year, and the owners organize the annual Out of Space festival in Skokie. Downtown Evanston also has two dedicated classical music venues: the Nichols Concert Hall near Raymond Park, and the Pick Staiger Concert Hall on campus at Northwestern University. The Mudlark Theater focuses its plays and musicals on youth performances.Each holiday season, Downtown Evanston hosts a tree-lighting ceremony in Fountain Square with a visit from Santa Claus and musical performances. From July to September, the Downtown Summer Sounds concert series brings Chicago and Evanston area musicians to the stage each Thursday. The city also hosts monthly Thursday Night Market events at the same time, letting visitors check out a variety of local vendors.
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‘L’ train to Chicago at Dempster CTA station
Ridge Avenue connects residents with the greater Evanston community. Locals are about 1 mile southwest of Downtown Evanston and 14 miles north of the Chicago Loop. Folks looking for an alternative to driving can catch Chicago Transit Authority or Pace buses at stops along Ridge Avenue and Dempster Street. The neighborhood is less than 1 mile away from the Dempster station for locals catching the ‘L’ train’s Purple Line and the Main Street Station for Metra commuter trains.Cyclists can use Asbury Avenue, a lower-traffic thoroughfare, for north-south travel. Emergency medical care is available at Ascension Saint Francis Hospital, 1 mile south of the neighborhood. The Chicago O’Hare International Airport is 15 miles southwest.
Classic baked goods, Neapolitan pizza and Japanese robata
As a largely residential neighborhood, Ridge’s closest shopping is to the east near Downtown Evanston. Trader Joe’s and Jewel-Osco are available nearby on Chicago Avenue and Hamilton Street, while Whole Foods Market is about a mile northeast. In the downtown area, Target and World Market sit alongside specialty shops like Gearhead Outfitters, a go-to for fitness equipment and apparel. A few blocks east of the neighborhood’s south side, vintage records and novels line the shelves at Squeezebox Books & Music. Visitors can buy, sell and trade their media at the quirky shop, which participates in Record Store Day each April and hosts its annual sidewalk sale in July.The neighborhood’s proximity to Downtown Evanston also places it close to some of the city’s favorite food spots. Union Pizzeria shares its location with Evanston Space and specializes in Neapolitan pizzas. The entire restaurant orbits around a sizable brick oven with mason jar lamps hanging overhead like stars. A tall vintage neon sign with a warm red glow welcomes visitors to Bennison’s Bakery. Dating back to 1938, this North Shore mainstay serves pastries, cinnamon rolls, paczki, chocolate croissants and Austrian apfelstrudel.
Green turf walls, neon lights and the sizzle of hot plates set the tone at Shinsen, a Japanese and Thai restaurant. The menu includes sushi and robata dishes with skewered shrimp, chicken hearts or skirt steak. Upscale New American dishes like Rappahannock oysters, filet mignon and duck confit are on the menu at Oceanique. The seafood-focused eatery landed on Eater Chicago’s list of the best restaurants in Evanston in 2024.
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Churches and synagogues with rich local history
The parish at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has observed the Eucharist in Evanston since 1864. Other houses of worship nearby include Beth Emet, the Free Synagogue, a Reform Jewish synagogue where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a guest speaker in 1958, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which traces its origins back to a Lutheran congregation that first started in 1872.
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Written By
Tre Lyerly
Photography Contributed By
Brett Bulthuis
Video By
Charlie Lingner
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Mary Summerville
Mary Summerville
Coldwell Banker
(630) 931-8695
362 Total Sales
3 in Ridge
$380K - $830K Price Range
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Robin Depeder
Robin Depeder
Responds Quickly@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(847) 860-6157
52 Total Sales
1 in Ridge
$906,000 Price
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Amy Kite
Amy Kite
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Infinity
(815) 581-9501
1,138 Total Sales
1 in Ridge
$220,000 Price
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Scott Curcio
Scott Curcio
Responds QuicklyBaird & Warner
(773) 570-2816
479 Total Sales
1 in Ridge
$1,350,000 Price
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Vickie McClusky
Vickie McClusky
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Preferred Rlty
(630) 474-6914
308 Total Sales
1 in Ridge
$655,000 Price
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Mary Rosinski
Mary Rosinski
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(224) 261-7360
44 Total Sales
1 in Ridge
$180,000 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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Merrick Rose Garden
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Botanical Gardens
Penny Park
- Trails
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Larimer Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
Leider Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Kamen Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Soccer
James Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Soccer
Alexander Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Grey Park
- Trails
- Playground
- Amphitheater
Lawson Park
- Trails
- Playground
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Ridge | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Ridge Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Ridge, Evanston sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Ridge, Evanston over the last 12 months is $447,550, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$825,000
Median Sale Price
$447,550
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,600,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$320,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
14
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-3%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$288
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
262
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1926
Months of Supply
3.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
3,562
Significantly above the national average
1,933
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,254
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,000
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
829
Median Age
41
Population under 18
18.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$80,092
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$116,058
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.6%
College Graduates
80.2%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
40%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.6%
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®
93
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
78
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
57
/ 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
Downtown Evanston
Historical waterfront homes and cityscape views
Southeast Evanston
A longstanding community with immediate access to Lake Michigan and Chicago Avenue
West End
A west Evanston neighborhood with recreation by the channel
West Evanston
Evanston's historic neighborhood with ongoing construction
West Village
Evanston's grassroots arts district packed with galleries, studios and spirit
Northeast Evanston
Evanston's residential university town along the lake
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