Evanston Among Best Places To Live In 2026: Ranking

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston has been ranked No. 14 on Livability.com's 2026 list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live, up from No. 17 in 2025.

The annual ranking gives national recognition to small- to mid-sized communities across the country.

Livability's list looks at cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000. The ranking is intended to identify places that offer a balance of opportunity, affordability and quality of life.

Evanston's inclusion, the city said, reflects its continued focus on being a place where residents can live, work and thrive.

According to Livability.com, the 2026 rankings were developed in partnership with Applied Geographic Solutions, or AGS. The analysis reviewed nearly 100 data points across eight categories, including economy and housing, amenities and environment, safety, health, education and transportation.

Evanston stood out for its performance in health, amenities and education, the ranking said. Those categories helped boost the city's quality-of-life profile and made Evanston attractive to residents of different ages, the city reported.

“This recognition highlights what our community already knows: Evanston is a welcoming, dynamic city with exceptional resources, engaged residents, and a strong sense of place,” said City Manager Luke Stowe. “We are proud to be recognized nationally and remain committed to building a community where everyone can thrive.”

The updated ranking marks an improvement from last year and places Evanston higher on a closely watched national list focused on community livability.