Today, most of the area’s residents live in Evanston and commute into the city each day. Residents of Evanston can easily make this commute by car, train, or bus.
While many of Evanston’s residents work in Chicago, some are lucky enough to both live and work locally. The largest sectors of employment in this area are healthcare and education.

Evanston is home to a branch of the North Shore University Health System as well as Saint Francis Hospital. Combined, these two businesses employ approximately 5,000 individuals.

Evanston is best known as the home of Northwestern University. Its location on the north side of Chicago makes it easy for students and faculty to commute between Northwestern University and downtown Chicago. The university is by far the area’s largest employer, with almost 10,000 full-time employees. The local school district, Evanston-Skokie School District 65, employs a much smaller but still significant number of Evanston residents.

Residents of Evanston have plenty of options to shop locally. Downtown Evanston is filled with hundreds of businesses, including several high rise office buildings and low rise shopping centers. This is also the site of the community’s movie theater and dozens of great restaurants. Downtown Evanston has L stops providing a quick and direct route the city. Another shopping district with a nearby L stop is Dempster Street. This area is known for its modern boutiques and alternative restaurants. Stop here if you are looking for a hip clothing store or a unique vegan restaurant.
Howard Street is the southernmost portion of Evanston, forming the border between Evanston and northern Chicago. Because the Howard Street CTA station offers connections with the Purple, Red, and Yellow lines, it’s easily accessible from anywhere in the Chicago metro area. This district includes large shopping centers with staples such as Target, Jewel-Osco, and Best Buy as well as smaller, independently owned shops and restaurants.

Students in pre-K through 8th grade attend school in the Evanston-Skokie Community Consolidated School District.

This district is home to several public schools, two magnet schools, and an early childhood education center.

• • Older students in grades 9 through 12 attend Evanston Township High School, part of the Evanston Township High School District 202. 

• • This town is also served by several private Montessori schools and two Catholic schools.

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