Population 17,170 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Evanston
Household size in South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.10 | 2.42 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.42 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 2.49 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.18 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in South Evanston are small: just 2.04 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 edged down from 2.10 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.1 | 37.3 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 37.0 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.7 | 38.3 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.6 | 40.1 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.6 | +2.9 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
South Evanston skews older than the country: its median age is 43.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.1, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the east.
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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 7.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 8.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 8.3% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 8.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in South Evanston (8.9%), below the national share of 11.6%. Evanston as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 1.3 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 South Evanston
Renters in South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.8% | 39.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.8% | 42.7% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.1% | 42.5% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.9% | 41.9% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in South Evanston than nationally: 45.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 11.6% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 11.3% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in South Evanston: 7.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of Evanston. Vacancy is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, 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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1940 | 1948 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1941 | 1948 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1943 | 1950 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1950 | 1957 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +8 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
South Evanston is a place of older homes: half were built before 1950, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1940 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southeast 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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,116 | $1,210 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,213 | $1,290 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,461 | $1,527 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,798 | $1,936 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$682 | +$726 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in South Evanston runs $1,798 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in Evanston overall ($1,936). Rent has climbed $682 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 28.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 South Evanston
Bachelor's degrees in South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.2% | 67.2% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 75.8% | 67.5% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.5% | 68.5% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 75.9% | 70.2% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +3.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
South Evanston is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (75.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.8% | 94.0% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.9% | 94.3% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.4% | 94.0% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.4% | 96.8% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +2.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in South Evanston: 98.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.6 points, in line with the national trend.
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 South Evanston
| Period | South Evanston | Evanston | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 6.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 7.8% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 6.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in South Evanston than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has 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).
South Evanston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Evanston | 2.04 | 43.6 | 8.9% | 45.9% | 7.5% | 1950 | $1,798 | 75.9% | 98.4% | 4.3% |
| Downtown | 1.82 | 29.9 | 5.5% | 64.1% | 12.9% | 1973 | $1,895 | 77.2% | 98.1% | 8.2% |
| 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% |
| Central Street Merchant District | 2.40 | 48.3 | 3.6% | 23.0% | 5.8% | 1945 | $2,360 | 82.4% | 98.0% | 4.7% |
| 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% |
| Gross Point | 2.96 | 42.3 | 5.2% | 8.5% | 5.5% | 1955 | $2,302 | 81.9% | 98.8% | 4.6% |
| 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: Dayton's Bluff, St. Paul, MN · Huntridge, Las Vegas, NV · Grandview, Glendale, CA · Cuf, Cincinnati, OH · Tioga-Nicetown, Philadelphia, PA · Vance Jackson, San Antonio, TX · Central District, Seattle, WA · Wallingford, Seattle, WA · West Loch, Waipahu, HI · Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA
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 South 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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