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What BestPlaces Users Say about Evanston
Evanston, Illinois is a vibrant city located in Cook County, just north of Chicago. With a population of over 75,000 people, it is known for its diverse community, beautiful lakefront, and great schools. As a popular place to live, work, and play, many users have shared their thoughts and experiences about living in Evanston on the website BestPlaces.net. These reviews cover a wide range of topics, from the cost of living to the quality of schools, giving a well-rounded view of what it's like to call Evanston home.
One user, Rachel, praises the community feel of Evanston, saying, "Evanston has a charming small-town vibe while still offering all the amenities of a big city. The people here are friendly and welcoming, making it a great place to raise a family." Similarly, Mark shares, "I love the diversity in Evanston. It's great to see so many different cultures and backgrounds coming together in one place." These reviews highlight the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere of Evanston, making it a desirable place to live for many.
On the other hand, a user named David expresses frustration with the high cost of living in Evanston, stating, "Housing prices are skyrocketing and property taxes are through the roof. It's becoming increasingly difficult for middle-class families to afford to live here." This sentiment is echoed by another user, Sarah, who adds, "While Evanston has a lot to offer, the cost of living is a major downside. Rent and home prices are out of reach for many, and even groceries and other essentials are more expensive here compared to other nearby cities." These reviews provide a balanced perspective on the financial aspects of living in Evanston, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects.
In addition to the community and cost of living, many users also mention the quality of schools in Evanston. Amy shares, "I moved to Evanston specifically for the top-rated schools, and I have not been disappointed. My children are receiving a high-quality education and there are also many extracurricular activities for them to participate in." Similarly, John states, "The schools in Evanston are excellent, and I'm grateful for the diverse and enriching opportunities my children have had here." These reviews highlight one of the main draws for families moving to Evanston – the highly regarded schools and educational opportunities available.
Overall, the user reviews on BestPlaces.net paint a mostly positive picture of living in Evanston, with mentions of the friendly community, diversity, and excellent schools. However, the high cost of living is a common complaint, indicating that it may be a significant factor to consider before making the move to this bustling city in Illinois.
based on 20 ReviewsGet to know Evanston with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Evanston
parking scam!! - 12/26/2019
be sure to take pictures of where you park... Full-scale parking scam going on in this town. They purposely obscure self-pay parking signs. Nine out of 10 visitors could reasonably assume it’s a free parking spot… But the GOTCHA post a block down has all the rules in font size
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Really expensive place to live with little benefi - 2/27/2019
I've lived here for two years for school. Terrible place for students. Northwestern is a great school/campus, but the city itself is NOT student friendly.
Everything is expensive. Let's start with housing. It's just as expensive as living in downtown Chicago. How does that make sense? Who honestly would rather live in Evanston instead of downtown Chicago? Students going to Northwestern don't really have the choice to live elsewhere, and we are being taken advantage of with absurd rents. Live in an old place and pay a lot, or live in a new unit and pay A LOT.
There are also few cheap places to eat out. Apparently legislation was passed that disallows restaurants from having drive thru's in the city. This of course drives out all the affordable places to eat, leaving us with restaurants, majority of which will cost at minimum $20-25 per meal per person.
Finally let's talk about police and parking. Street parking goes until 9pm. Utterly
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WORST Place To Live! E-Town means no LIFE - 1/22/2016
Aside from everything else mentioned on this site about the bad aspects of Evanston - bot be overlooked is the NOISE.
The People's Republic of Evanston CATERS to the wealthy citizens in the million dollar mansions who live on or next to Lake Michigan. Get this - Evanston passed a law restricting the use of noisy LEAF BLOWERS because they irritate the wealthy citizens (people in $2,300+ apartments are benefited too, right? NOT!)
Yet the endless construction that the Evanston City keeps approving (presumably to get tax revenue dollars denied them by expanding NU footprint) the construction noise is UNBEARABLE.
Trucks rumbling, jackhammers, street drilling, huge metal plates across the road making clank noises, an endless din that punishes citizens. CAll 311 and you get NO HELP FROM THE CITY (of course not, they're the ones rubber stamping the construction)
A recording studio that had been in business here for decades closed its doors to move
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A great place to live - 6/27/2015
I've lived in Evanston my whole life and started raising my family here. Alas we have to relocate, but our neighborhood is fantastic.
A little known gem, The Commons of Evanston, is a great place to live. Surrounded by million dollar homes, these townhouse/condos are affordable, 2 blks from lake, 2 blks from L & Metra, great school district.
We have a 3bdrm 2.5 bath, 1700 sqft, and our mortgage is $1700 a month. The complex does everything for you, from snow removal and landscaping, to window screen repair. Everyone is friendly and accommodating.
If you are looking to relocate, our unit will be on the market by 7/8, turn-key
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I am about to retire and cannot afford to continue - 4/22/2014
I have lived in this beautiful, midwest, lakeside city most of my life, with a few forays into Chicago city living. But I always returned back here. The streets are clean, tree-lined, and dotted by million dollar homes. The public schools are still good. Our grand and glorious NU (Northwestern University) has been allowed to buy many properties in the city and remove them from the tax roles. Hence the individual homeowners and renters are left to bear a huge burden of property tax. A newly constructed 2 bedroom rental apartment will cost you close to $2000K per month. I understand that NU has one of the richest endowments of any US university, but fails to pay its' fair share to the city that it exploits...enough negativity here, this has been a host/parasite relationship for decades and unlikely to change.
So I will retire soon, and move to a state where there is no tax on retirement pensions, and where the weather is good most days, and where I can afford to pay my
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Evanston is a good place to live; let's make it gr - 3/23/2013
I'm surprised by the negative comments below. I moved to Evanston three years ago and find it a good balance between city and suburban life. The summers are glorious: the beaches are clean, the trees are beautiful, and there are many festivals. I bike everywhere year-round and feel safe (except for when I go onto the commercial streets). I have become involved in the community and there are many of us who are trying to make Evanston more fair and inclusive. The city is responsive, and staffed with smart and hardworking people, who are doing their best in tough times. The schools look fantastic; which is why the property taxes are so high. There are racists in every city, but here I see many attempts by well-meaning people to bridge the divide. Everyone complains about parking tickets; why not bike or take public transportation instead of driving everywhere? If you must drive, use the parking garages so that you won't get ticketed.
If you live in Evanston and don't like an
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Evanston is a good place to live- let's make it gr - 3/23/2013
I'm surprised by the negative comments below. I moved to Evanston three years ago and find it a good balance between city and suburban life. The summers are glorious: the beaches are clean, the trees are beautiful, and there are many festivals. I bike everywhere year-round and feel safe (except for when I go onto the commercial streets). I have become involved in the community and there are many of us who are trying to make Evanston more fair and inclusive. The city is responsive, and staffed with smart and hardworking people, who are doing their best in tough times. The schools look fantastic; which is why the property taxes are so high. There are racists in every city, but here I see many attempts by well-meaning people to bridge the divide. Everyone complains about parking tickets; why not bike or take public transportation instead of driving everywhere? If you must drive, use the parking garages so that you won't get ticketed.
If you live in Evanston and don't like an
Read More
A good place to live- let's make it great! - 3/23/2013
I'm surprised by the negative comments below. I moved to Evanston three years ago and find it a good balance between city and suburban life. The summers are glorious: the beaches are clean, the trees are beautiful, and there are many festivals. I bike everywhere year-round and feel safe (except for when I go onto the commercial streets). I have become involved in the community and there are many of us who are trying to make Evanston more fair and inclusive. The city is responsive, and staffed with smart and hardworking people, who are doing their best in tough times. The schools look fantastic; which is why the property taxes are so high. There are racists in every city, but here I see many attempts by well-meaning people to bridge the divide. Everyone complains about parking tickets; why not bike or take public transportation instead of driving everywhere? If you must drive, use the parking garages so that you won't get ticketed.
If you live in Evanston and don't like an
Read More
Evanston is horrible - 1/24/2013
I hate Evanston. I wish I never moved here. The residents are passive aggressive, snide assholes who can't pay attention while driving, stay in their lane, or read basic street signs. The parking police are overzealous and are a nightmare to deal with. Panhandlers are everywhere and make more money than I do. The city tries to nickel and dime you for every possible service while providing horrible service. The train stations are dilapidated and smelly. The grocery stores are disgustingly dirty and overpriced. People leave dog poop along the sidewalks. It is horrible and I dream about being able to
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The truth about Evanston, IL - 4/18/2011
I agree with you. We moved to Evanston, IL almost 3 years ago. It's a horrible town to live in if you are an African American. And the worst place for our children. People are so racist is sicking. My child attended a private school, Roycemore in Evanston, IL. The administrators and teachers were extremely racist, rude and hostile. My son is and has always been a very nice boy. However, while attending Roycemore school, the teachers and middle school director almost drove us absolutely CRAZY. Everyday they made up lies and problems for my child. Then every quarter they gave my child F's, saying he did not submit his homework. But they "lied" because I went out of my way to personally email all his assignments directly to his teachers. As his mother, I almost lost my mind. Stay away from Roycemore school unless you want difficulties. All they want is your MONEY!!! They really don't give a dam about African American Kids, especially our boys, and they disrespect AA parents too. As far
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