New Trier homes
The towns that share New Trier High School.
Living on Chicago's North Shore
The North Shore Chicago Suburbs: A Town Guide
Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe and Evanston compared by schools, trains, lakefront and homes, with facts and sources.
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01 / The towns
North Shore Chicago suburbs compared town by town
North Shore Chicago suburbs run north from Evanston along Lake Michigan. All five towns in this guide are in Cook County and on the Metra Union Pacific North line, and each runs its own schools.
Evanston
Population (2020): 78,110
Schools: District 65 and Evanston Township High School 202
Metra: Main St, Davis St, Central St, plus the CTA Purple Line
Wilmette
Population (2020): 28,170
Schools: District 39 or Avoca 37, New Trier 203
Metra: Wilmette, plus CTA Linden
Kenilworth
Population (2020): 2,514
Schools: District 38, New Trier 203
Metra: Kenilworth
Winnetka
Population (2020): 12,744
Schools: District 36, New Trier 203
Metra: Indian Hill, Winnetka, Hubbard Woods
Glencoe
Population (2020): 8,849
Schools: District 35, New Trier 203
Metra: Glencoe
Source: US Census 2020, district and Metra websites, read November 2026.
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02 / Commute
Commuting from the North Shore
Local Union Pacific North trains reach Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago in about 30 minutes from Wilmette, with some rush hour trains faster. Evanston and Wilmette also have the CTA Purple Line. Drivers use Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road and the Edens Expressway.
03 / Lakefront
The lakefront
Every town in this guide touches Lake Michigan. Wilmette has Gillson Park and its beach, Evanston has a long line of lakefront parks and beaches, and Kenilworth, Winnetka and Glencoe each have their own beaches.
04 / Homes and taxes
Homes and property taxes
- Evanston has the most condos and the widest price range.
- Wilmette mixes condos, older homes in the east and mid-century homes in the west.
- Kenilworth, Winnetka and Glencoe are mostly single homes, many from before 1940.
- Cook County reassesses homes by region every three years. Your tax bill depends on the assessment, the town and the school districts.
05 / Questions
Questions about the North Shore Chicago suburbs
The North Shore usually means the lakefront towns north of Chicago: Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka and Glencoe, and further north Highland Park, Lake Forest and others.
Wilmette is about 14 miles north of the Loop, about 30 minutes by local Metra train to Ogilvie.
Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka and Glencoe share New Trier High School. Evanston has Evanston Township High School.
06 / Related
More about the North Shore
North Shore market report
Prices by town, with source and month.
Wilmette homes for sale
East and west Wilmette by style.
Town pages: Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe and Evanston.
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