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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
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Politically arrogant, secretive and corrupt - 10/13/2008
Well where do I start...
There is absolutely no oversight of the tax and spend political elitists here on the north shore just north of Chicago. A 200k grant to renovate a building given to a community group to honor those that have been of consequence to the development of Evanston. The overall concept was questionable. There obviously wasn't a plan and review process at work here.
Just a handout and theft of the cash which was a $200k handout from the federal government to Evanston. And now no investigation just a call for higher taxes and because as noted in the Pioneer press article they don't want to lay off any of their friends and relatives feeding off the public trough. The city services are bad and lacking, schools are mediocre at best and the police haven't soved any of the murders that have occured over the past 5 years. What a joke of a government...or more appropriatley lack there of. The Suburbs are supposed to be haven from the cesspool of Chicago
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Evanston Housing - 10/4/2008
Evanston is a divided community. Towards the Lake Michigan the houses can sell in the millions of dollars. To the west housing prices decline but are still very substantial. There are condominium communities in the are many conversion; some are newly built. Prices appear to be about $400,000. Many young professional families and faculty members live in these areas. No one knows what's going to happen to the prices of those condos as the market settles over the next 2 years. There is a substantial amount of student mostly in older apartment buildings on an off campus. In the middle of all this is downtown Evanston which is a large commercial area adjacent to the university which services the surrounding suburbs and part of Chicago. In this area there are high rise condominiums/ commercial buildings. The city, to improve its tax base, has permitted condominium buildings to be built between 20 and 30 stories
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Evanston Housing - 10/4/2008
Evanston is a divided community. Towards the Lake Michigan the houses can sell in the millions of dollars. To the west housing prices decline but are still very substantial. There are condominium communities in the are many conversion; some are newly built. Prices appear to be about $400,000. Many young professional families and faculty members live in these areas. No one knows what's going to happen to the prices of those condos as the market settles over the next 2 years. There is a substantial amount of student mostly in older apartment buildings on an off campus. In the middle of all this is downtown Evanston which is a large commercial area adjacent to the university which services the surrounding suburbs and part of Chicago. In this area there are high rise condominiums/ commercial buildings. The city, to improve its tax base, has permitted condominium buildings to be built between 20 and 30 stories
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Wide range of housing - 7/9/2008
Evanston has a range of housing that includes ranch style homes on the western border and elegant mansions along Sheridan Road by the lake. Home prices are high since Evanston is the first suburb north of Chicago. The most expensive aspect of home ownership is the steep property tax. Evanston's taxes are much higher than surrounding suburbs, and make a substantial impact on expenses. Recently, Evanston has seen a boom in condo construction. This has slowed down due to the
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Summers near the beach - 12/13/2007
Evanston has wonderful summers. We are so near the beach that walking around at all t imes of day is enjoyable. There are tons of people out with their
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Jack Mc - 1/28/2007
Evanston is a remarkable place to live, with diversity, culture, education, and shopping all easy and
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Corrupt, rude city - 1/7/2007
Evanston is a city that has a deceptive facade. Although you see all these towering condos and yuppie restaurants and stores, Evanston is actually a horrible place to live if you're not a said yuppie or if you're African American. Like most of NorthSide Chicago, Evanston is full of jerks, which is fine by me unless this jerkishness extends to the city officials itself. Evanston PD in particular is full of huge a-holes who rather than taming down violence in the bad areas of Evanston are content to issue parking tickets 24/7. You will not find a city of Evanston's size so rabidly devoted to issuing parking tickets; it's their number one hobby. Lastly, EPD is notoriously racist towards blacks; I'm not even black and I've noticed this. In additon, homelessness gets worse every year and if you're a university student (Northwestern is to the north next to lake) expect to be hounded by rude city denizens. Because the university charter says Evanston cannot collect property taxes from
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Bessie Rhodes Magnet School - 1/4/2007
Evanston's school district 65 is very poorly administrated. It is not serving the children well. The School Board is inept and wrapped up in red tape. Many families, (including our's) are moving away in search of better schools and lower taxes. If you really care about a high quality education for your child, don't move
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