$789,085Average Value$340Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
Close to Northwestern University athletic facilities
North of Evanston along a busy thoroughfare that courses past Northwestern University sports venues and numerous restaurants and businesses, the Central Street neighborhood stretches from a large city park to the Central ‘L’ train station on the CTA’s Purple Line. Even with a large amount of economic activity and extended renovation work at Northwestern’s football stadium, Central Street doesn’t lose the neighborly spirit that’s captured in the colorful murals painted on garage doors along a few of the community’s alleyways.
Get everything Northwestern at Gameday Spirit Fanstore in Central Street.
A mural by a local artist in the business district of Central Street .
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Green Bay Road links to shops and restaurants
Following tracks that lead to Chicago and Downtown Evanston, Green Bay Road is a major north-south thoroughfare intersecting with Central Avenue in the heart of the community's small business district. Because sometimes dessert should be eaten first, Leonidas Chocolate Café has over 90 varieties of imported Belgian chocolates. Waffles, omelets and quiche are also available for a complete meal. DeSalvo’s Pizza is a family-owned pizza shop specializing in thin-crust pies with gluten-free and vegan options. Backlot Coffee is an independent coffee house with locally roasted coffees and gelato. It’s also a community hangout where patrons work on their laptops or gather with friends. The Spice House has been around since 1957, selling various spices, rubs and blends for the casual or professional chef. Gameday Spirit has plenty of purple and white Northwestern apparel to show team spirit. Grocery store options include Whole Foods Market and Foodstuffs Gourmet Food.
Get your chocolate fix at Leonidas Cafe Chocolaterie in Central Street.
DeSalvo's Pizza is a favorite for Central Street residents.
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Solidly built homes in the Central Street neighborhood
While this neighborhood is close to Northwestern University’s campus, more faculty than students live here. “Students tend to live near the downtown area to the south, closer to the academic buildings,” says Alan May, a Realtor with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty. The oldest homes in the neighborhood are from the late 1800s, but a lot were built around the 1920s. “There’s a lot of brick construction, and the homes are solidly built,” May says. “Some look at the homes from out of the area and are concerned about the homes that are 100 years old. I tell them they’re made of brick and have been well maintained.”
Single-family homes range from $500,000 to $1 million for Colonial Revivals, American Foursquares and Craftsman bungalows. The homes are far from limited to those architectural styles, though, as many were custom made or modified with additions and other upgrades over the decades. “You’re going to have trouble finding under half a million,” May says. “If it is, it probably needs some work, or it won’t have an updated kitchen or bathroom.” Larger homes include farmhouses and Prairie style from $1 million to $2 million. Condos built around Central Street are mainly between $200,000 and $400,000, while townhouses are fewer, priced from $250,000 to $650,000.
Larger homes in Central Street range from $1 million to $2 million.
A Central Street neighborhood is well shaded from mature trees.
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Catch-and-release fishing at Lovelace Park's pond
In the northwest part of the neighborhood is Lovelace Park, with athletic fields of all kinds, a catch-and-release pond and a sledding hill for winter fun. A grassroots group called Friends of Lovelace Park works with the city to keep the park looking good. Locals know Ackerman Park as the 4th of July Park due to its proximity to the Independence Day parade on Central Street. It’s close to the shops and restaurants on Central, has a playground, a couple of tennis courts and, during the winter, an outdoor skating rink. Youth soccer games are often held in Bent Park.
A resident walks their dog alongside Bent Park.
Kids love the playground at Ackerman Park.
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Garage murals at the north part of Central Street
In the north part of the neighborhood, alleyways off Thayer Street have murals on garage doors, thanks to an artist who lives nearby. Teresa Parod started doing her art with permission from homeowners during the COVID-19 lockdown, and she got the idea after visiting Cuba. The alleys are between Thayer and Isabella Streets and between Thayer Street and Park Place. The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian concentrates on the cultures and traditions of Indigenous people from North America and Tribal Nations across the Great Lakes region. Close to Lake Michigan is the Grosse Point Lighthouse, constructed in 1877, a national historic landmark. It’s open for tours during summer weekends. Nearby is Lighthouse Beach, which is open for swimming from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Many Central Street businesses have colorful murals painted on the side of their buildings.
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian is open Monday through Saturday.
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Willard Elementary School is in the neighborhood
High Niche grades and low student-to-teacher ratios highlight the K-12 pathway for students living in the Central Street neighborhood. Willard Elementary School gets an A-minus from Niche. Students can get individualized attention with an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Similar small class sizes are at Haven Middle School, with a B-plus grade. Evanston Township High School is rated an A-plus and is ranked the 23rd-best public high school in Illinois out of more than 700. The school also has an average graduation rate of 93%. St. Athanasius is a private school option for K-8 students with an A-plus grade. Northwestern University is one of the leading research universities in the country, with much of the campus offering picturesque views of Lake Michigan.
Willard Elementary School serves students in grades K-5.
Haven Middle School has an overall Niche grade of B plus.
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Metra and ‘L’ train stop at Central Street station
The Central Street Metra station is close to the busy intersection of Green Bay Road and Central Street, which provides service for customers who want to take the commuter train into downtown Chicago for a half-hour trip to the Ogilvie Transportation Center. The purple line CTA elevated train also stops at the station. Bus riders can choose from CTA buses, which have routes on Central Street or the Pace suburban bus system with stops on Green Bay Road. It’s about 4 miles to Interstate 94, and the tip to Chicago O’Hare International Airport is about half an hour.
Buses run regularly throughout Cental Street.
The Central Street Metra takes commuters Downtown Chicago in under an hour.
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Ongoing renovations at Ryan Field
Usually, the Northwestern Wildcats play their home football games at Ryan Field, close to the eastern part of the neighborhood. But for the next two seasons, they are being played closer to Lake Michigan, about 2 miles east, while Ryan Field is being renovated. “People have been receptive to the temporary stadium even though it's much smaller,” May says. “They wish that Ryan Field would be built on the lakefront.”
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
Mary Summerville,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Lovelace Park
Basketball
Picnic Area
Soccer
Ackerman Park
Grills
Picnic Area
Tennis
Bent Park
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Independence Park
Trails
Playground
Events
Lawson Park
Trails
Playground
Howell Park
Picnic Area
Multi-Purpose Field
Transit
Airport
Chicago O'Hare International
27 min drive
Train
Evanston Central Street Station
Bus
Central Street & Cowper
Bus
Central Street & Crawford
Bus
Central Street & Prospect
Bus
Central Street & Lincolnwood
Bus
Green Bay Rd & Lincoln St
Bus
Central Street & Central Park
Bus
Green Bay Rd & Isabella St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Central Street
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Central Street, Evanston sell after 13 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Central Street, Evanston over the last 12 months is $600,387, down 7% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Rarely available in NW Evanston, this newer construction home seamlessly blends classic architectural detail with modern amenities to create a light-filled home situated in a prime location walking distance to Central Street shops, restaurants & Metra as well as all that downtown Wilmette has to offer. The custom stone walkway leads to the covered front porch and entry - inside the 10' ceilings
Meredith Schreiber@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Special, one of a kind 4-bedroom Tudor home on stellar block in NW Evanston. Built in 1920, this unique home has flexible space on three levels. A few steps down from the entry is the 1st floor which includes a formal dining room with built-ins. An office, galley kitchen, bedroom and full bathroom are part of the original house. In 1993, the current owners added a breakfast room and family room,
Experience the perfect blend of modern comfort and prime location in this fully renovated move in ready top-floor condo on Evanston's sought-after Central Street. Redesigned in 2024, bright two-bedroom, one-bath home features a sleek kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar, all opening to a spacious living and dining area with soaring ceilings and hardwood
New Marvin windows (2023) in this Classic Vintage charmer. This impressive bright and sunny condo features a generous floor plan with separate living and dining rooms offering extra space for home office etc. You will fall in love with the original built ins and serene views overlooking the canal and greenery. No noise from Central St as this unit is east facing and tucked away from the street.
The residences at Central Station are attractive, spacious, and functional featuring upgraded spacious floor plan, upgraded kitchens, washer and dryers in, in each residence and built in computer niches. The goal is to design the interior unit finishes to be at the highest end of this submarket.All the energy-efficient residences at Central Station have high ceilings, walk-in closets with wire
Spacious and stylish apartment featuring beautiful hardwood floors, oversized bedrooms, and a huge open-concept living area. Enjoy the convenience of in-unit washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances including a dishwasher and microwave, granite countertops, and 42" cabinets. The unit also offers a walk-in closet for ample storage. Cats are welcome with a 25/month and a one-time 100. Residents
Discover the perfect blend of comfort and convenience in this stunning 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Evanston, IL. Just minutes from Lighthouse Beach, this home offers an unbeatable location near shops, dining, and public transit. Inside, enjoy gorgeous dark hardwood floors, an open layout, and copious amounts of closet space. The in-unit laundry adds everyday ease, while the cable-ready
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mary Summerville,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,859
Median Age
47
Population under 18
23.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.5%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$143,865
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$173,493
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99%
College Graduates
85%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
50.4%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
83/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
79/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
40/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
