Living in Evanston, Illinois

Evanston sits directly north of Chicago along Lake Michigan. It borders Rogers Park and Wilmette and is connected to the city by the CTA Purple Line, Metra, and several major roads. With a population of roughly 75,000, Evanston functions more like a small city than a typical suburb.

The presence of Northwestern University shapes almost every part of Evanston, from housing demand to local businesses to who lives here at different stages of life. Evanston is also more politically progressive than most nearby suburbs and has a long history of civic engagement.

Housing costs are high by Midwest standards, but usually lower than those in comparable Chicago neighborhoods near the lake. Demand stays steady because Evanston appeals to multiple groups at once: families, university staff, students, and people who want city access without living in Chicago proper. This city is near perfect for anyone looking for a pretty magical mix of suburb, urban, family-centric, lakefront, and a dose of college energy. It's weird and wonderful.

Evanston’s daily life centers on a few specific areas, including Downtown Evanston near Davis Street, Central Street on the North Side, and the areas around Northwestern University. These are the places where people go out and socialize, meet friends, and use transit to get downtown, but also run errands and do random daily stuff. That's the magic of cities like Evanston, an interesting mix of the social extracurricular and the curricular. Outside of those areas, Evanston feels residential and quiet and is very family-centric.

Lake Michigan is one of Evanston’s defining features. The public lakefront runs along the eastern edge of the city and is used year-round. Dawes Park, Lee Street Beach, Lighthouse Beach, and Clark Street Beach see steady use from spring through fall for walking, swimming (the lake gets warm-ish), and biking. Many residents build these lakefront paths into daily routines, especially early mornings and evenings.

Northwestern University adds social and cultural activities that most suburbs don’t have. Residents attend theater productions, lectures, concerts, and Big Ten sports on campus. Football games at Ryan Field and basketball at Welsh-Ryan Arena bring visitors into the city, but don’t overwhelm it. The university also supports museums, galleries, and public talks that locals use throughout the year. This is why college towns with legitimate downtowns attract so many empty-nesters.

The city is walkable in parts, especially near transit and commercial areas. Plenty of locals still rely on cars, particularly families living farther from downtown or the lake, but taking the train into Chicago is shockingly easy to newcomers.

To see what locals do for fun, check out the Evanston [Calendar of Events](https://downtownevanston.org/upcoming-events).

We highly recommend visiting Evanston and staying in the community at a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) instead of a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can also receive discounted fares on travel through our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ).

Most locals work outside the city of Evanston.

Common job destinations include Chicago, nearby North Shore suburbs, and university-related roles within Evanston. Northwestern University is the largest employer and brings faculty, researchers, staff, and graduate students into the city.

Professional fields are common. Education, healthcare, nonprofit work, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles show up often. Many residents work hybrid schedules and commute a few days per week.

Evanston itself has some office space, but it is not a major employment center. The city functions more as a residential base with good access to regional jobs. It does, however, have a pretty good supply of coworking space for remote or entrepreneur workers. This includes Creative Coworking, coLab, and Office805.

CTA and Metra access matter. People who rely on transit often choose housing near Purple Line stops or Metra stations to manage daily commutes.