Evanston Chicago Commute (Skokie, Wilmette, Lincoln: neighborhoods, living in, restaurants)

[xdreakx]

I am being relocated through work from Tallahassee,FL to Evanston, IL. I will be working on the west side of Evanston and looking for advice on best place to live.

I want to be in an urban/walkable area with restaurants/bars/shops but I will also have a car so I can commute easily to work. I would like my commute to be 30 minutes or less. I am a single 27 y/o male and looking for a studio or 1br for ~$1000 a month.

I would like to live in Chicago if possible but from what I understand downtown Evanston would be nice too. Are there any Chicago neighborhoods that meet my criteria and are safe?

[jdiddy]

I'd look at Evanston first. Its more urban and walkable than just about anything in Florida. Andersonville, Lincoln Square, and Edgewater would be Northside neighborhoods to look at.

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

I'd look at Evanston first. Its more urban and walkable than just about anything in Florida. Andersonville, Lincoln Square, and Edgewater would be Northside neighborhoods to look at.

I second that. Evanston is a lot of fun. The west side of Evanston is poorly served by public transportation so you'd probably want to live where you get to work in one hop (one bus, in this case). Andersonville and the rest of the city requires a change of lines (train to bus).

Unless by "west side of Evanston" you mean the Research Park. It's right downtown, but on the west side of downtown. I don't know of too many employers on the real west side of Evanston (west of Asbury) - it's pretty residential.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

I second that. Evanston is a lot of fun. The west side of Evanston is poorly served by public transportation so you'd probably want to live where you get to work in one hop (one bus, in this case). Andersonville and the rest of the city requires a change of lines (train to bus).

Unless by "west side of Evanston" you mean the Research Park. It's right downtown, but on the west side of downtown. I don't know of too many employers on the real west side of Evanston (west of Asbury) - it's pretty residential.

There are a handful of retail type businesses on Evanston's western border but there some actual R&D / Corp HQ business in Skokie which might be described as "directly west of Evanston". If the work location is actually in Skokie then living in Evanston and driving to work is probably best bet. If the work location is the "Research Park" (also known as the "business incubator"...) it would be more feasible to walk either from a nearby residential area or take train / bus to Evanston's core from a place on Chicago/s northside...

[xdreakx]

Thank you all for your replied I appreciate the input.

I am researching both Evanston and suggested Chicago neighborhoods.

[Maintainschaos]

If you decide to drive to work, living in Edgewater or Rogers Park will put you there within 10-15 min on most days, if not quicker. You will also have the option of taking the red to purple line, if you want to commute via el, or you could grab a number of any buses at Howard.

[Rebel1231]

I live off Ashland and Irving park in the West Lakeview neighborhood. I drive to Wilmette (first town after Evanston) for work during rush hour and it only takes me about 25-30 minutes. I think Lakeview, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Andersonville, and Edgewater would be good hoods for you. Plenty of bars and affordable rent.

[Chicago60614]

You've got it easy. Evanston and the north side of Chicago pretty seamlessly ease into one another, and they're equally served by the L as well as commuter trains. Evanston is actually quite desirable and certainly holds its own when put up against a lot of the north side. You have an easy commuter if you're near the L. You could live anywhere from Lakeview up through Evanston. The Purple Line runs express mornings and afternoon/evening rush hours from Lincoln Park/Lakeview straight up to Evanston.