Livability.com has named Evanston the No. 10 best downtown in their Top 10 Best Downtowns, 2016 list.
The areas Livability identified in their list are downtown areas that are thriving by offering expanded housing options, affordability, diversity, entertainment and a growing population.
“Having a great downtown is about more than just great stores and great restaurants. A great downtown needs people,” said Matt Carmichael, editor of Livability. “Great cities need great spaces to gather. These cities and towns are wonderful places to get out and engage with your friends, family and other residents.”
To pick the best downtowns, Livability editors started with the data on more than 2,000 small to mid-size cities. Using figures provided by Esri, the Census Bureau, the United States Department of Agriculture and other sources, they looked for areas with low vacancy rates, diversity, affordability, new development and an increasing population.
Here is Livability’s full Top 10 Best Downtowns, 2016 list, with Evanston ranking at No. 10:
- Alexandria, VA
- Santa Monica, CA
- Greenville, SC
- Bellevue, WA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Boise, ID
- Tempe, AZ
- Plano, TX
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Evanston, IL