Evanston city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Evanston city, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Evanston city, Illinois has a total population of 76,552, the 14th largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $95,766, which is 17% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.9%.

Key Takeaways

70.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Illinois.

Evanston city Quick Facts

Population 76,552

Median Household Income $95,766

Median Home Value $472,300

Poverty Rate 11.9%

Unemployment Rate 6.3%

Median Age 38.0 years

Homeownership Rate 55.8%

Affordability Ratio 4.9x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 70.3%

High School Graduation Rate 96.5%

Diversity Index 61/100

Population 76,552 14th of 1,445

Median Income $95,766 top 20%

Poverty Rate 11.9% 4% lower national

Median Home Value $472,300 top 10%

How Evanston city Compares

Median Household Income

Evanston city

$95,766

$81,702

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Evanston city

$472,300

$250,500

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.3%

$25K-$50K 14.3%

$50K-$100K 23.6%

$100K+ 48.8%

Employment

6.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8% | National: 5.2%

63.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 55.8%

Renter 44.2%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.4%

18-34

28.6%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

22.5%

75+

7.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 60 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Evanston city Rankings in Illinois

#14 Population of 1,445

#261 Median Income of 1,445

#38 Education of 1,445

#47 Home Value of 1,445

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Cook County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Cicero town	83,223	$68,548	13.1%	$236,000

Cities Similar to Evanston city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Schaumburg village	76,780	$94,690	$312,200	50.6%	6.0%
Bolingbrook village	73,813	$107,552	$295,500	38.5%	8.2%
Arlington Heights village	76,220	$118,532	$403,200	60.2%	6.3%
Palatine village	66,548	$95,950	$347,900	49.8%	10.1%
Bloomington city	78,703	$75,449	$198,800	48.9%	11.2%

Population Overview

Evanston city is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 76,552. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Evanston city is 38.0 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Evanston city is $95,766. This is 17% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 22% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.9%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $472,300. Housing costs are 89% higher than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 55.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Evanston city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.6%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (9.0% vs 5.8%).

Education

70.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Evanston city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 89% higher than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.5%. Notably, 40.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Evanston city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Evanston city, Illinois?

Evanston city, Illinois has a population of 76,552 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Evanston city, IL?

The median household income in Evanston city is $95,766, which is 22% higher the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Evanston city, IL?

The poverty rate in Evanston city is 11.9%. This means approximately 8,289 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Evanston city, Illinois?

Evanston city's population is 58.4% White, 14.6% Black, 12.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 9.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Evanston city, IL?

The median home value in Evanston city is $472,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x.

How educated is Evanston city, Illinois?

70.3% of adults (25+) in Evanston city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 40.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.