Wilmette, IL Homes for Sale: Find Lakefront, Condos & Family Properties
Wilmette sits on Lake Michigan just north of Evanston, with a CTA Purple Line terminal, a Metra station in the village center and park district beaches. Homes range from 19th-century houses near the lake to mid-century and new construction west of Ridge Road.
- County
- Cook County
- ZIP codes
- 60091
- School districts
- Wilmette 39 · Avoca 37 (parts of the west side) · New Trier Township High School 203. Confirm by address
Newest homes for sale in Wilmette
Browse active listings with Wilmette in the listing's city field. A Wilmette mailing address does not by itself confirm village limits or school assignment.
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Living in Wilmette
Wilmette is a village of about 5.4 square miles on Lake Michigan, directly north of Evanston, with two rail lines into Chicago and a lakefront run by the park district.
The village is in Cook County and uses ZIP code 60091. Evanston borders it to the south, Kenilworth and Winnetka to the north, and Glenview and Skokie to the west. The Metra Union Pacific North line and Green Bay Road run through the middle of town, Sheridan Road follows the lake, and the Edens Expressway crosses the west side. Ridge Road is the line locals use to describe east and west Wilmette, and it also marks a change in how the village handles sewers and stormwater.
Our listings feed comes from MRED and updates through the day, with photos, price history and tax details for each home. You will see Victorian, Prairie-style, Tudor and colonial houses on the east side, condos near the Purple Line and the village center, and ranches, split-levels and rebuilds west of Ridge Road. The sections below cover the places, neighborhoods, schools and checks that matter when you compare them.
What are the local highlights and attractions in Wilmette?
Wilmette's best-known places sit along the lake and around its two train stations. These include the Bahá'í House of Worship, Gillson Park, Centennial Park, the village center, Plaza del Lago, Linden Square, and the Wilmette Historical Museum.
Bahá'í House of Worship
The domed temple at Sheridan Road and Linden Avenue was dedicated in 1953 and is open to visitors, with formal gardens and a welcome center. It sits a short walk from the Linden Purple Line station.
Gillson Park and Wilmette Harbor
The Wilmette Park District's largest lakefront park has a swimming beach, a sailing beach, open lawns and the harbor at the mouth of the North Shore Channel. Beach access in summer works by pass or daily fee, so check the park district's current rules.
Centennial Park
The park district's recreation complex on Old Glenview Road has outdoor pools, an ice rink and tennis courts, with programs through the year.
The village center
Shops, restaurants, the public library and village hall sit around Central Avenue and Wilmette Avenue near the Metra station, within walking distance of many east-side homes.
Plaza del Lago and Linden Square
Plaza del Lago is a Spanish-style shopping center on Sheridan Road near the Kenilworth border. Linden Square is a smaller cluster of shops near the Purple Line terminal.
Wilmette Historical Museum
The village's history museum covers the Ouilmette family, the German farm village of Gross Point and the growth of Wilmette as a rail suburb.
Wilmette neighborhoods
Most Wilmette neighborhood names are informal. Use them to start a search, then confirm the boundaries, sewer system and school assignment for each address.
Village center and Linden Square
Condos, townhomes and older houses within walking distance of the Wilmette Metra station or the Linden Purple Line terminal, with shops and the library close by.
East Wilmette and the lakefront
The original 1872 village grew up between the tracks and the lake. The Ouilmette North Historic District in the northeast part of the village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and includes more than 900 houses, most built before World War II, including Prairie School work. Homes east of Sheridan Road include lakefront property.
What types of homes are found in Wilmette between Green Bay Road and Ridge Road?
Early and mid-20th-century houses on a regular street grid, with colonials, bungalows and Tudors mixed with rebuilds, and a walk or short drive to the village center.
What is the history and housing like in Wilmette west of Ridge Road?
This was the Village of Gross Point, a German farm community incorporated in 1874 and annexed by Wilmette in the 1920s. Housing is mostly mid-century ranches, split-levels and two-stories, plus newer construction, near Edens Plaza and the Edens Expressway. Parts of the northwest side are served by Avoca School District 37.
How to get around Wilmette?
Wilmette has both a CTA and a Metra station, so the distance to each is worth comparing between homes.
CTA Purple Line
Linden is the northern terminal of the Purple Line. Trains run through Evanston to Howard, where riders can transfer to the Red Line, and express service continues to the Loop on weekday rush periods. Check the current CTA schedule.
Metra Union Pacific North
The Wilmette station sits in the village center, and trains run to Ogilvie Transportation Center. The Kenilworth and Indian Hill stations are just past the north edge of the village. Check the current Metra schedule for ride times.
Edens Expressway and local roads
I-94 crosses the west side of Wilmette with an interchange at Lake Avenue. Sheridan Road follows the lake, and Green Bay Road and Ridge Road carry north-south traffic through the village.
Green Bay Trail
The bike and walking trail runs north from Wilmette beside the Metra tracks through Kenilworth, Winnetka and Glencoe to Highland Park.
How to find a home that fits the Wilmette setting?
Wilmette's housing spans most of the last 130 years. East of Ridge Road you will find Victorian, Prairie-style, Tudor, Georgian and colonial houses on smaller, older lots, along with rebuilds where an original house came down. West of Ridge Road, more homes date from the 1940s through the 1960s, with ranches and split-levels next to newer two-stories. Condos and townhomes cluster near the Metra station, the Purple Line terminal and Sheridan Road, and a small number of homes sit on the lake.
Compare the setting as much as the house. A condo near the Linden station, a 1920s house east of the tracks and a 1950s ranch west of Ridge Road come with different commutes, upkeep and drainage questions. Older homes bring older basements, sewer lines and systems to inspect. Homes in a local landmark or historic area can need village review before exterior changes or demolition. For any listing, review the tax history, any association dues and the full monthly cost of that property.
Wilmette area schools
Most of Wilmette is served by Wilmette Public Schools District 39, and parts of the northwest side are served by Avoca School District 37. Both send students to New Trier Township High School District 203. District 39 notes that its boundaries do not match the village limits, so a Wilmette address or ZIP code does not confirm which schools serve a home.
Before you rely on a school, verify the specific property address with the district.
- Elementary and middle school
Wilmette Public Schools District 39
Kindergarten through fourth grade attend one of four neighborhood schools: Central, Harper, McKenzie or Romona. Fifth and sixth grade attend Highcrest Middle School, and seventh and eighth grade attend Wilmette Junior High School.
District 39 schools - Elementary and middle school
Avoca School District 37
Avoca serves parts of Wilmette, Glenview, Northfield and Winnetka. Avoca West School in Glenview serves kindergarten through fifth grade, and Marie Murphy School on Illinois Road in Wilmette serves sixth through eighth grade.
Avoca District 37 - High school
New Trier Township High School District 203
New Trier has a freshman campus in Northfield and a campus in Winnetka for grades 10 through 12.
New Trier District 203
Five checks worth making before an offer
How to confirm the village and school district for a Wilmette home?
Some homes with Wilmette mailing addresses sit in Glenview or unincorporated Cook County, and school lines do not follow the village limits. Confirm the municipality with the village or Cook County and the school assignment with the district.
Which sewer system serves a house in Wilmette?
East of Ridge Road, Wilmette uses a combined sewer that carries stormwater and wastewater in one pipe. West of Ridge Road, storm and sanitary sewers are separate. Ask about past basement water, backflow protection and overhead sewers, and consider a sewer scope of the line from the house to the street, which the owner maintains.
What do Wilmette's regulations allow for a house and lot?
Wilmette has a Historic Preservation Commission and designated local landmarks. Ask the village whether a property is a landmark and what review applies before you plan around a teardown, addition or exterior change.
What inspectors are needed for Wilmette lakefront homes?
Bluff stability, shoreline structures and drainage need specialists. Shoreline work can need permits that affect timing, so ask about erosion history and insurance costs before your inspection period ends.
How to pull the actual tax bill for a Wilmette home?
Get the most recent bill for the property from the Cook County Treasurer and check which exemptions apply. Cook County reassesses on a three-year cycle, so ask when the property was last reassessed. Add insurance, any association dues and upkeep to compare the full monthly cost.
Wilmette, IL REALTORS®
When searching for Wilmette, IL homes for sale, buyers and sellers turn to The Spot Real Estate Team for local guidance. We can help you check which elementary attendance area and school district serve an address, explain how the sewer systems differ east and west of Ridge Road, and flag when an older home may need village review before an addition or teardown.
We compare sales with attention to lot size, condition, distance to the train and details such as original millwork and basement updates. We can arrange early-morning showings for commuters, sewer scopes and specialty inspections for older homes, and connect you with local lenders for conventional, VA, FHA or jumbo financing. For sellers, we offer staging and virtual staging, professional photography and marketing across Chicago-area portals. Thinking about selling? Use the contact button below to request a free, personalized home valuation.
Wilmette real estate: buyer FAQs
Which schools serve Wilmette homes?
Most of Wilmette is in Wilmette Public Schools District 39, with Central, Harper, McKenzie and Romona for kindergarten through fourth grade, Highcrest Middle School for fifth and sixth, and Wilmette Junior High School for seventh and eighth. Parts of the northwest side are in Avoca School District 37. Both feed New Trier Township High School District 203. Confirm enrollment for the exact address with each district.
What ZIP code does Wilmette use?
Wilmette uses ZIP code 60091. Some homes with a 60091 address sit in Glenview or unincorporated Cook County, so check the municipality for any listing near the village edge.
Should I commute on the Purple Line or Metra?
It depends on where you work and where the home sits. Linden, the Purple Line terminal, connects to the Red Line at Howard and has express service to the Loop on weekday rush periods. The Wilmette Metra station in the village center runs to Ogilvie Transportation Center. Check both current schedules from the home you are considering.
How do I estimate property taxes on a Wilmette home?
Pull the most recent bill for the specific property from the Cook County Treasurer. The bill depends on the assessed value, the combined rates of the taxing bodies for that address and any exemptions. Cook County reassesses on a three-year cycle, so ask when the property was last reassessed.
What is the difference between east and west of Ridge Road?
East of Ridge Road is the original village, with older homes on smaller lots and a combined sewer system. West of Ridge Road was the Village of Gross Point until the 1920s, with more mid-century homes and separate storm and sanitary sewers. Ask about drainage and basement history for any home on either side.
Can I tear down or remodel an older Wilmette home?
Often, but local landmarks and some older homes can need village review before demolition or exterior changes, and zoning sets limits on size and placement. Ask the village what applies to the address before you make an offer that depends on it.
Does Wilmette have public beaches?
Yes. The Wilmette Park District runs the beach at Gillson Park, which also has a sailing beach and sits next to Wilmette Harbor. Summer beach access works by pass or daily fee, so check the park district for current rules.
Communities near Wilmette
Compare homes in the neighboring towns.
- Evanston
- Kenilworth
- Winnetka
- Glencoe
- Glenview
- Skokie
- Northbrook
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