$508,840Average Value$353Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
A historical and trendy mix downtown
After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, city dwellers built elegant waterfront homes in Evanston. Today, residents of Downtown Evanston enjoy distant views of Chicago's glittering skyline by night and sweeping Lake Michigan vistas by day. The area keeps some nostalgic charms with vintage architecture. "It's a unique area where you get the serenity of Lake Michigan's shores along with the busy atmosphere of downtown," says Michael Marin, a managing broker and top producer with Signature Homes Realty.
Northwestern adds college-town flavor
An integral part of Evanston is Northwestern University, just north of downtown. It's the No. 1 college in Illinois, according to Niche. The 240-acre campus links to the much smaller Chicago campus, about 12 miles away, via a free shuttle. The university has approximately 23,000 students and 2,500 faculty members and is Evanston's largest employer.
Picnic pick up, deep-dish circa 1974
Downtown Evanston offers eateries, small businesses, big-box stores, hotels and more. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market are right near home. Cupitol Coffee & Eatery serves fresh-baked goods, cold-press juices and all-day brunch. For lunch on the go, pick something up at Picnic, where the menu's full of healthy fare.
Giordano's, which started in 1974 in the South Side of Chicago, now has 45 locations in Illinois. Their stuffed deep-dish pizza has received accolades from the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, Eater and more.
Young actors get on stage at Mudlark Theater Company, a non-profit offering camps and classes for youth. For a movie night out, AMC Evanston 12 supplies the flicks.
Cupitol Coffee & Eatery in Downtown Evanston is a local favorite.
Downtown Evanston' Picnic has many delicious grain bowls and salads to choose from.
1/2
Art Deco to high-rise apartments
There's a mix of historical and contemporary styles within this waterfront cityscape. "We have a good spread of different architecture, from hundred-year-old lakefront mansions to modern attached condominiums," Marin says. Townhouses, condominiums and apartment blocks line major thoroughfares, sharing curb appeal with modern mid- and high-rises. Apartments make up close to 50% of the property mix.
Vintage and historical single-family homes include Tudor Revival and Art Deco styles, plus features like wainscoting, original hardwood flooring, fireplaces and spacious windows. The average listing price in the area is just under $500,000. Twenty percent of homes fall under $200,000 and about 5% are over $1.3 million.
A gorgeous house in Downtown Evanston is surrounded by dense landscaping.
Modern glass high-rise buildings dot the landscape of Downtown Evanston.
1/2
Parks like Centennial and Raymond
Within walking distance of most downtown homes, Lake Michigan's shoreline is the star. The Northwestern Sailing Center rents out catamarans, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards and windsurfing and sailing lessons are also popular. Public beaches are open during warmer months, with free season passes for those living in specific ZIP codes.
A lovely spot for waterside picnics, Clark Street Beach offers volleyball courts. Dog Beach is a favorite for water frolics or off-leash socializing in a fenced area. Centennial Park is the place for a lakeside walk to the peninsula on Northwestern's campus.
Amid the manicured green spaces of Raymond Park, there's a playground with an abstract climbing sculpture.
Dawes Park is a stunning lakeside park in Evanston.
Deborah Butterfield's 1998 sculpture "Duna" sits in the center of Oldberg Park in Evanston.
1/2
Do's in Downtown Evanston
There are plenty of things to do downtown. Fountain Square's annual Fall Festival offers live music, kids' art activities, ice cream and coffee trucks, food vendors and a maker's market. The Holiday Bazaar hosted by the Woman's Club of Evanston showcases 50 curated vendors of handmade goods. The Young Evanston Artists festival, or YEA!, is held on the third Saturday of May at Raymond Park.
The L, Divvy bikes and Metra
The Chicago Transit Authority Purple Line L trains run all day between the Chicago Loop and seven stops in Downtown Evanston. The CTA also runs bus routes. Evanston Davis Street Metra station has service on the Union Pacific North line. Traveling south, Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center is the fifth stop from Evanston. Going north, it's about 50 miles to Kenosha, Wisconsin, the only Metra stop outside Illinois. There's a Divvy bike share station, plus spots for bike racks, dedicated lanes and tune-up stations. O'Hare International Airport is about 15 miles away.
The CTA Purple line runs through Downtown Evanston.
Downtown Evanston has a large offering of bus lines with a depot just off of the CTA and Metra.
1/2
Public schools include giant ETHS
Children residing in Downtown Evanston may attend public schools like Dewey Elementary, graded A-minus by Niche and Nichols Middle, graded B-plus. Evanston Township High, graded A-plus, is No. 23 in the state, according to Niche. With more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor space, ETHS is the largest single-building high school in the country. Some highlights of the 65-acre campus include a planetarium, greenhouse, swimming pools and tennis courts.
There are many private schools in the Evanston area. One of these, Beacon Academy, graded A-plus, is located downtown. It combines an International Baccalaureate curriculum with Montessori principles for ninth through 12th grade.
Nichols Middle School is public school in Evanston with 687 students in grades 6-8.
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
Hobart Park
Picnic Area
Playground
Merrick Rose Garden
Picnic Area
Trails
Botanical Gardens
Penny Park
Trails
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Centennial Park
Trails
Fountain Square
Oldberg Park
Trails
Dawes Park
Bike Trails
Trails
Lawson Park
Trails
Playground
Burnham Shores Park
Boating
Tennis
Trails
Transit
Airport
Chicago O'Hare International
29 min drive
Train
Evanston Davis Street Station
Subway
Davis Station
Bus
Chicago Ave & Lake St
Bus
Davis & Orrington
Bus
Davis St & Oak Ave
Bus
Davis Cta Station
Bus
Church St & Maple Ave
Bus
Chicago Ave & Grove St
Bus
Chicago Avenue & Church
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Downtown Evanston
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
8
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Evanston, Evanston sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Downtown Evanston, Evanston over the last 12 months is $437,522, down 3% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Experience elevated living in this 1 bed + 1 bath + dining/den condo at the sought-after Optima Horizons building, just steps from Northwestern University. This 900 sq ft unit features a remodeled kitchen with Viking appliances, quartz countertops, a 4 seat peninsula, Delta Touch/Touchless faucet with a farmhouse sink, and an under-counter beverage fridge. The spa-style bath includes a premium
Corina Iancu BogdanBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
RARELY AVAILABLE 1 BEDRM CONDO W/ 14x12 TERRACE SURROUNDED BY LUSH GREENERY! WONDERFUL LIGHT & BRIGHT HOME WITH IN-UNIT LAUNDRY & OPEN FLR PLAN. SUPERB LOCATION IN BLDG - SAME FLOOR AS POOL, EXERCISE ROOM, SUNDECK, HEATED GARAGE SPACE & STORAGE. LIVE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN EVANSTON NEAR SHOPPING, TRAINS, RESTAURANTS, MOVIE THEATERS & NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. 24 HR DOORPERSON. FABULOUS INVESTOR
Jennifer NooneBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
Spacious, sunny 2BR/2BA in boutique elevator building just south of downtown Evanston......Walk to everything, L, Metra, restaurants, health clubs, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Northwestern University and more. Wood floors in living room, dining room & foyer within the last few years. Great open floor plan facing south is ideal for entertaining. Split bedroom layout for extra privacy. 9-ft.
Gloria Wagner@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Located in downtown Evanston, the unit is on the resale market for the first time. Well-designed small one bedroom unit (living room/kitchen/dining combo) with courtyard views has just had many items upgraded, including beautiful new floors throughout, new upgraded kitchen cabinets with designer cabinetry, new kitchen appliances, kitchen sink, faucet and quartz countertop and more. The bathroom
Avidor Evanston, a community for adults 55 years and older, offers a combination of livability, design, and quality. Located at 1727 Oak Ave. in Evanston, this community features extensive amenities, designer finishes and daily events & activities. From the pool with sun deck, the fitness club to stainless steel appliances and custom flooring & cabinetry, our designers have thought of everything
Beautiful furnished or unfurnished studio in the heart of downtown Evanston. This condo has large windows, plantation shutters, a brand new kitchen, a custom Murphy bed and a large walk-in closet. This is a privately owned condo in a professionally managed elevator building where laundry is on-site. Rent includes storage, heat and water. Tenant pays own electric and wifi. This sweet home is for
Katrina de los ReyesBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
Talk about convenient! The Scholar takes off-campus and Evanston living to a whole new level with private terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, luxurious finishes, and views of the lake. Located in downtown Evanston, The Scholar is a short walk from shopping, dining, the lakefront, and much more. With an abundant selection of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in a contemporary
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 Renters
Demographics
Total Population
8,131
Median Age
35
Population Density
32 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$62,789
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$87,205
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.9%
College Graduates
83.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
43.5%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
51.9%
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®
92/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
98/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
59/ 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.
