Living in Evanston, IL
Suburb in Illinois
Evanston is a suburb in Illinois, home to about 77,000 people, with 6.0 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Evanston a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 22 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Highly educated: 70% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6 research universities are within 31 mi
- Big job market: about 6.0 million people live within 31 mi
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 1.9% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Evanston ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Evanston: common questions
What is the cost of living in Evanston?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $542k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,290 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Evanston?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.9% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Evanston safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Evanston?
Evanston has cold winters: winter days average around 35°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 34″ of snow a year.
Does Evanston get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.61 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Evanston?
The nearest major airport is ORD, about 12 mi away.
How Evanston scores
Each bar compares Evanston with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Evanston right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.