Evanston 2
Evanston, 11 miles north of the Loop, is one of the most culturally oriented communities on the North Shore. This diverse community has everything a suburban dweller could want. Its lakeside location, convenient shopping and proximity to Chicago all add to its popularity among a spectrum of home buyers with a range of home-buying budgets. Evanston residents can walk to Lake Michigan and watch the sunrise, spend the day wandering through book- stores and art galleries and end the day with dinner in a restaurant that offers live opera.
Evanston has preserved much of its historical charm through such significant buildings as the Gross Point Lighthouse and the Charles Gates Dawes House. The village is home to numerous theater groups, a symphony orchestra, five museums and a number of art galleries and centers. Northwestern University and the National Lewis University add to the cultural mix of the community. Evanston boasts 263 acres of parks, five public beaches, five community centers, an educational ecology center, two indoor ice rinks, a golf course, tennis courts and a wide range of classes and programs.
Housing. Known for its distinctive architecture, vintage Evanston homes include Victorians, Colonials, Tudors, and some Frank Lloyd Wright designs. Ranches, bungalows and split-levels are dominant in the newer area. Single-family homes ranged from $175,000 to $3,000,000 in 2006. The average 2006 single family home price was $620,758.
Schools. Students attend elementary school in District 65. Evanston Township High School District 202 offers an accelerated studies program with Northwestern University. The 2006 average composite ACT score was 22.3.
Transportation. The Edens Expressway (I-94) is just west of town, and drive time to the Loop is 40 minutes. Two Metra train stations serve Evanston. Commute time to the Loop is 35 minutes local and 21 minutes express. There is continuous El service to Chicago, with a rush hour express train that takes 25 minutes. O’Hare Airport is a 40-minute drive, while Midway is an hour away. The trip takes 45 minutes on CTA’s Evanston Express.
Population 74,239
Avg. home value $620,758
Village Hall 847-328-2100