Northwestern is internationally renowned as one of America’s elite universities, with particularly high accolades often bestowed upon its programs dedicated to law, medicine, journalism, and art. The university serves nearly twice as many postgraduate students as undergraduates, and its undergrad acceptance rate is among the most selective in the nation.
The lakefront campus is thirty minutes north of Chicago in the suburban community of Evanston; folks at Northwestern enjoy the benefits of both a college-town atmosphere and close proximity to one of America’s most exciting and culturally-rich cities. Downtown Evanston is right outside the southwest corner of campus, making it easy to walk to the numerous restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, as well as the Transit service that can take you all the way to Chicago.
Apartments, condos, and rental houses are plentiful around the university, and numerous affordable options provide easy walking access to both the main campus and the downtown area. Folks who plan to spend a lot of time in the science and athletics facilities would be best served finding living arrangements near the north campus, while those frequenting the humanities buildings would be better off closer to the south campus.
As of September 2025, the average apartment rent in Evanston, IL is $1,596 for a studio, $1,880 for one bedroom, $2,532 for two bedrooms, and $3,592 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Evanston has increased by 3.5% in the past year.
Studio
399 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,596/month
Average Rent
1 BR
662 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,880/month
Average Rent
2 BR
970 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,532/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,145 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$3,592/month
Average Rent
Discover the best ways to find off-campus housing near Northwestern University. Get tips on locations, pricing, and amenities in our comprehensive guide.
Very Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.
Good Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
The area around this property has good transit with many nearby transportation options.
Biker's Paradise
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
Do you prefer to get around on two wheels? You’ll love living in this neighborhood, which is considered a biker’s paradise.
Public
Grades K-5
250 Students
Public
Grades K-5
321 Students
Public
Grades K-5
394 Students
M L King Jr Lab Experimental School
Public
Grades K-8
369 Students
Public
Grades K-5
345 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
581 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
650 Students
M L King Jr Lab Experimental School
Public
Grades K-8
369 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
695 Students
Public
Public
Grades 9-12
3,691 Students
Public
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2025.
