Evanston Ranks #9 Among 205 Chicago-Area Suburbs in Chicago Magazine’s Inaugural Rankings

The City of Evanston has been ranked #9 out of 205 suburbs overall in the Chicago area by Chicago Magazine’s June/July 2026 issue, in the publication’s first-ever fully data-driven ranking of suburban communities across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.

The rankings, produced in partnership with analytics firm DataJoe, evaluated communities on eight weighted categories: Community, Housing, Education, Safety, Mobility, Entertainment, Green Space and Parks, and Proximity to the Loop. Evanston earned an overall score of 8.11 out of 10, placing it among the top five percent of all ranked communities.

Evanston’s category performance was particularly distinguished in three areas. The city earned the #1 ranking in Mobility, reflecting its exceptional walkability, bikeability, and access to public rail and bus lines. Evanston also ranked #6 in Green Space & Park and #11 in Community (a category that rewards racial and linguistic diversity, educational attainment, low poverty rates, and low unemployment).

Chicago Magazine specifically highlighted Evanston’s distinctive character as “a city that puts the urban in suburban,” noting the community’s strong walkability and transit access, its robust cultural and restaurant scene, and a housing market offering options across a wide range of price points. 

For more information about living, working, and investing in Evanston, visit cityofevanston.org.