Area Guide
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 2026, the average apartment rent in Evanston, IL is $1,717 for a studio, $1,930 for one bedroom, $2,577 for two bedrooms, and $3,694 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Evanston has increased by 3.0% in the past year.
Studio
427 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,717/month
Average Rent
1 BR
666 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,930/month
Average Rent
2 BR
946 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,577/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,103 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$3,694/month
Average Rent
How to Find Off-Campus Housing Near Northwestern University
Discover the best ways to find off-campus housing near Northwestern University. Get tips on locations, pricing, and amenities in our comprehensive guide.
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Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Northwestern University Evanston Campus - Evanston, IL (University) is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Some Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Very Bikeable
Bikeability
Northwestern University Evanston Campus - Evanston, IL (University) offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.
Supermarket Within a 15 Minute Walk
Groceries
Good Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
Good Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
Good Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
Northwestern University Evanston Campus - Evanston, IL (University) provides green space and wellness resources in certain areas.
Large Amount of Park Space Nearby
Parks
Fair Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby
Wellness
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in Northwestern University Evanston Campus - Evanston, IL (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Vibrant Atmosphere at Times
Vibrancy
Fair Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
Not Noisy
Quiet Score
Public
Grades K-5
224 Students
Public
Grades K-5
318 Students
Public
Grades K-5
296 Students
Public
Grades K-5
407 Students
Public
Grades K-5
353 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
612 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
566 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
647 Students
M L King Jr Lab Experimental School
Public
Grades K-8
421 Students
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
3,457 Students
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
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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 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
