Population 17,799 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown
Household size in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.03 | 2.42 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.03 | 2.42 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.49 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.82 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.18 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Downtown is a place of small households, averaging 1.82 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.03 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4 | 37.3 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.6 | 37.0 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.5 | 38.3 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 29.9 | 40.1 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +2.9 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Downtown is young: half of its residents are under 29.9, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 30.4, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.3% | 7.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 8.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 8.3% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 8.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown: 5.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 3.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown
Renters in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 57.7% | 39.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 57.9% | 42.7% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.0% | 42.5% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 64.1% | 41.9% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown rent: 64.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Nearly six in ten owners (58.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 11.6% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 11.3% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Downtown than nationally: 12.9%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1948 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1948 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1950 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1957 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +8 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Downtown run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. Even so, homes here are newer than in Evanston overall, where the median home dates to 1957. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,148 | $1,210 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,399 | $1,290 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,711 | $1,527 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,895 | $1,936 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$747 | +$726 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Downtown costs $1,895 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $747 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 41.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.7% | 67.2% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 77.1% | 67.5% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 80.8% | 68.5% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.2% | 70.2% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +3.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (77.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.1% | 94.0% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.4% | 94.3% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.6% | 94.0% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.1% | 96.8% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Downtown: 98.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Evanston. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 7.8% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 6.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Downtown: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 1.2 points, even as the national rate fell. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | 1.82 | 29.9 | 5.5% | 64.1% | 12.9% | 1973 | $1,895 | 77.2% | 98.1% | 8.2% |
| South Evanston | 2.04 | 43.6 | 8.9% | 45.9% | 7.5% | 1950 | $1,798 | 75.9% | 98.4% | 4.3% |
| Central Street Merchant District | 2.40 | 48.3 | 3.6% | 23.0% | 5.8% | 1945 | $2,360 | 82.4% | 98.0% | 4.7% |
| Gross Point | 2.96 | 42.3 | 5.2% | 8.5% | 5.5% | 1955 | $2,302 | 81.9% | 98.8% | 4.6% |
| Rogers Park | 1.99 | 37.6 | 6.6% | 71.8% | 9.6% | 1945 | $1,389 | 52.4% | 88.7% | 6.9% |
| West Ridge | 3.03 | 37.0 | 12.3% | 46.4% | 8.1% | 1950 | $1,542 | 45.9% | 87.1% | 8.4% |
| Granville Gardens | 2.95 | 37.3 | 19.8% | 62.2% | 11.2% | 1945 | $1,484 | 38.0% | 82.5% | 7.6% |
| Edgewater | 1.76 | 39.8 | 3.1% | 64.0% | 8.9% | 1953 | $1,501 | 61.8% | 94.4% | 8.3% |
| Andersonville | 2.02 | 40.7 | 4.6% | 52.1% | 9.7% | 1939 | $1,706 | 69.0% | 94.1% | 5.0% |
| North Park | 2.80 | 40.2 | 15.4% | 52.3% | 11.2% | 1954 | $1,173 | 47.5% | 91.6% | 4.9% |
| Lincoln Square | 2.18 | 37.4 | 8.8% | 58.6% | 6.6% | 1955 | $1,582 | 62.1% | 92.6% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Whitestone, Queens, NY · Westlake-San Francisco, Daly City, CA · West Loch, Waipahu, HI · West Grand, Grand Rapids, MI · Bagley, Detroit, MI · Ballantyne West, Charlotte, NC · Belair-Edison, Baltimore, MD · Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA · Blueberry Hill-Brigadoon-Stoneybrook, Lexington, KY · Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill, Portland, OR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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