Population 80,914 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Evanston
Household size in Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Evanston are small: just 2.23 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.42 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 33 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.0 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.3 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 40.1, the median age in Evanston is the same as the national median, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the northwest.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Evanston, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points since 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 Evanston
Renters in Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.7% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.5% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.9% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Evanston than nationally: 41.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 41.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 28 have a higher share of renters.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Evanston than nationally: 8.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Chicago area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1948 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Evanston is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the north. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 34 have older homes.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,210 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,290 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,527 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,936 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$726 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Evanston pays $1,936 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $726 a month from 2006–10, a 60% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 33.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northwest 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 Evanston
Bachelor's degrees in Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.2% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 67.5% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 68.5% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.2% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Evanston is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (70.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 20 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.0% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.3% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Evanston: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Evanston has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Illinois cities.
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 Evanston
| Period | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in Evanston is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Evanston compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston | 2.23 | 40.1 | 8.5% | 41.9% | 8.1% | 1957 | $1,936 | 70.2% | 96.8% | 6.0% |
| Skokie | 2.76 | 44.4 | 8.6% | 26.7% | 5.3% | 1962 | $1,795 | 52.8% | 90.9% | 4.6% |
| Wilmette | 2.72 | 45.1 | 5.1% | 12.1% | 4.9% | 1955 | $2,349 | 83.3% | 98.8% | 4.2% |
| Kenilworth | 3.29 | 41.7 | 3.3% | 3.9% | 5.7% | 1938 | $3,446 | 91.1% | 99.6% | 3.9% |
| Lincolnwood | 2.86 | 46.7 | 4.4% | 16.2% | 8.0% | 1963 | $3,363 | 56.9% | 93.7% | 7.9% |
| Winnetka | 3.01 | 43.5 | 6.2% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 1950 | $1,886 | 86.6% | 99.3% | 4.1% |
| Morton Grove | 2.65 | 45.7 | 7.4% | 15.4% | 5.4% | 1967 | $2,052 | 54.8% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Golf | 2.49 | 40.2 | 5.8% | 34.3% | 1.1% | 1996 | $2,468 | 67.4% | 97.8% | 2.3% |
| Northfield | 2.47 | 45.5 | 3.6% | 12.1% | 6.4% | 1971 | $2,117 | 79.5% | 99.6% | 2.1% |
| Niles | 2.61 | 48.0 | 6.9% | 26.0% | 6.3% | 1965 | $1,405 | 40.0% | 89.8% | 7.3% |
| Glenview | 2.64 | 45.9 | 7.5% | 21.4% | 5.3% | 1969 | $1,878 | 63.7% | 96.0% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Downey, CA · Douglasville, GA · Dothan, AL · Dublin, OH · Dublin, CA · Des Plaines, IL · College Station, TX · Detroit, MI · Council Bluffs, IA · Columbia, MD
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 Evanston. 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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