$1,015,241Average Value$332Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
Classic homes and parks along a major Evanston thoroughfare
Evanston's Ridge neighborhood is full of homes with classical stylings and condo options located near several small parks, the city's vibrant downtown area, just a mile away, and is zoned for highly rated public schools. The community's busy thoroughfare—for which it is named—runs centrally through the neighborhood, connecting to points north and south. However, sidewalks running throughout the neighborhood, bike-friendly roads and dedicated bike lanes make the area walkable and commutes bikeable. Farther away, about 15 miles, Chicago is accessible via direct routes by car or public transit.
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.
Homes in the Ridge have an amplitude of character to match their manicured yards.
Modern condo buildings provide amble room for those looking in the Ridge.
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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.
Beth Emet Synagogue hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in 1958 as a guest speaker.
Since 1864, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has been a center piece of the Ridge neighborhood.
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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.
Evanston Township High School has many honor-level courses offered to students.
Dewey Elementary School has an overall Niche grade of A.
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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.
Penny Park in Evanston is a great park for families.
Entrance signage at Merrick Rose Garden in Evanston.
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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.
A tall vintage neon sign with a warm red glow welcomes visitors to Bennison’s Bakery.
Vintage records and novels line the shelves at Squeezebox Books & Music.
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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.
Be sure to swing over to Sketchbook Brewing to try their latest brews in Southeast Evanston.
Everyone enjoys the music performance during Downtown Summer Sounds in Downtown Evanston.
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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.
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
On average, homes in Ridge, Evanston sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Ridge, Evanston over the last 12 months is $849,100, up 85% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
The "Castle on Ridge" - A rare opportunity to buy this Magnificent and Iconic mansion for the first time in nearly 50 years. De-signed by noted architect Stephen A. Jennings, this house is beautifully positioned on nearly an Acre with a full Coach house, expansive yards, and a 4 car garage. The Grand Entry welcomes you to this 18 room residence with 11 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 3 staircases, updated
Don't miss this beauty! With 12' ceilings and beautiful original wood molding and hardwood floors throughout, this stunning home is move in ready. The layout of the house is such that rooms can be repurposed based on your lifestyle. The entry with its arched doorway steps leads up to a foyer with a stunning staircase. On one side you will find the immense living room complete with wood burning
Lynn Briskin@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Step into this stunning and spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo, freshly painted with new flooring and ready to welcome you home. Located on a picturesque street in the heart of Downtown Evanston, this condo offers a walk-to-everything lifestyle. The primary bedroom is a luxurious haven with an ensuite bathroom and two expansive walk-in closets. The second bedroom offers versatility, perfect
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Recently redone 2 BED 2 BATH close to Downtown Evanston! Pet friendly! Unit Features: +Central AC / Heat +Stacked laundry+Stainless steel appliances+Open floor plan
Large 2nd floor 1-bedroom unit in a classic vintage building with a lovely little backyard for tenant's use. Full of light, eat-in kitchen and separate dining room. One block to downtown Evanston, CTA, Metra station. Walk to lakefront, Northwestern U. Polished hardwood floors throughout, in excellent shape. Charming arched doorways between the rooms. Heat and water included. Common area basement
1305 Oak Oak + DempsterEvanston$2250 per MonthAvailable: 2/1/2024Great two bedroom, one bathroom in beautiful Evanston courtyard building features newer kitchen with dishwasher, separate dining room with ceiling fan, spacious living room, equal sized bedrooms, great closet space, newer bathroom, hardwood floors throughout, laundry room in building, and pets are welcome!
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