85 nursing jobs in Evanston, IL

Downtown near Davis Street is the walkable hub of independent shops and transit, the usual draw for young professionals who want urban energy without Chicago density. The Main-Dempster Mile is more relaxed and arts-forward; Central Street and the Ridge Historic District feel quieter and small-town, with specialty retailers and historic houses.

Car-free nurses commuting into Evanston are repeatedly pointed at Purple Line or UP-North Metra-adjacent blocks, or at Chicago’s Edgewater and Rogers Park as cheaper bases with a straight ride north. Lakefront and downtown-adjacent streets sit at the premium end; interior residential corridors are the relative value play.

As of September 2026, apartments.com lists average apartment rent around $1,934 (studio about $1,721, one-bedroom $1,934, two-bedroom $2,582, three-bedroom $3,692), up 3.2% year over year; rental houses average about $3,270 and condos $2,116. U.S. News reports median home value $429,398 versus a national average near $359,870, median rent $1,497, median household income $99,756, and a weak housing-value index of 2.5/10 versus incomes. Downtown leans mid-rise and high-rise; other corridors have vintage courtyard and garden apartments.

Lakefront and downtown are the premium tier; the city is often called cheaper than Chicago but still expensive versus the U.S. overall. About 47% of residents rent.

The CTA Purple Line and Metra’s UP-North line are the practical no-car routes into Evanston; sources also cite Red Line connections and many bus routes. U.S. News puts average commute time at about 24.78 minutes.

Rush-hour congestion is called out on Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue. NorthShore University Health System and Saint Francis Hospital are named as major local employers.

Walkability and bikeability both score about 70/100 and transit about 60/100, so car-light living is realistic if you choose a rail pocket; Chicago’s Edgewater and Rogers Park are the neighborhoods people name for an Evanston job without a car. Resident wheel tax is a local extra; hospital-specific parking is not described in these sources.

You do not have to go into Chicago for a serious meal; downtown Davis Street and Main Street carry most of the independent restaurant energy. Community picks include Oceanique on Main Street, Alcove Evanston, and The Spot at 1700 Central for pizza, a bar, and outdoor seating; Cupitol is named for breakfast or brunch.

The range runs from casual joints to destination dining. Saturday mornings, the Evanston Farmers’ Market downtown is a standing local ritual.

Five Lake Michigan beaches, including Evanston Beach and Northwestern’s Lincoln Street Beach, plus the 1873 Grosse Point Lighthouse, define the shoreline. Park counts in sources run from 76 to 89, with most homes within a half-mile of one; named spots include Merrick Rose Garden, lakefront Garden Park (recently renovated), and the Lake Fill with walking paths and sports fields.

Warm-weather life is swimming, biking, hiking, and picnicking along the coast. In winter the same lakefront paths and parks remain the main outdoor outlets.

Northwestern University and the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art sit at the cultural center; the Evanston History Center covers local heritage, and Rotary International is headquartered here. Live theater, galleries, and a slower-than-Chicago but still cosmopolitan arts scene come up constantly.

Downtown Davis Street, the Main-Dempster Mile, and Central Street double as the shopping, gallery, and weekend-culture circuit, with the Saturday farmers’ market as a civic gathering. Nightlife is local restaurants and bars more than a big club district.

Warm months bring five beaches, lakefront paths, and a summer-or-fall getaway feel, with the Saturday farmers’ market as a downtown staple. Winters are described as long and harsh—the quality-of-life con most often paired with housing cost and traffic.

Lake Michigan drives both seasons: swimming and parks in summer, wind and cold off the water in winter. Plan for a real Midwest winter, not a mild shoulder-season climate.

Evanston/Skokie District 65 serves more than 8,000 students with 10 elementary schools, three middle schools, an early childhood center, and programs for students with disabilities; Evanston Township High School is the public high school. Sources say 23 of 36 public schools rate A or higher; Orrington Elementary is one named K–5. Crime is described as at or below the U.S. average and lower than Chicago’s, with a diverse community and parks within a half-mile of most homes.

Median age is about 36.9–38, with a large 20–29 cohort from Northwestern. Major local employers include Northwestern University, NorthShore University Health System, the City of Evanston, and Saint Francis Hospital.

People call Evanston the suburb for those who do not want a typical suburb: historic fabric, a progressive intellectual crowd around Northwestern, a real downtown, and Chicago about 13 miles south by train. Livability ranks it among the 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live; the city also touts a Niche 2025 #1 showing, while U.S. News scores it 5.8/10 and #15 in Illinois.

Praise clusters on diversity, parks, beaches, schools, and living without a car. Honest cons are steep housing especially near downtown and the lake, rush-hour traffic, long harsh winters, and extras such as a resident wheel tax.

Versus Chicago it is often framed as safer and somewhat more affordable, while still costing more than the national average.