Kenilworth Gardens was one of the first neighborhoods I covered in my Welcome to Wilmette: Neighborhood by Neighborhood series, and it's one buyers ask me about all the time. So here's everything in one place: where it is, which streets count, the history, the homes, the schools and what to think about before you buy.
First, the Confusing Part: Kenilworth Gardens Is Not in Kenilworth
Kenilworth Gardens is a neighborhood in the Village of Wilmette, zip code 60091. It is not part of the Village of Kenilworth, which is a separate village. Kenilworth Gardens is in Wilmette Public Schools District 39 and feeds into New Trier High School.
The neighborhood shares its name with one of its original subdivisions, platted in 1923. More on that below.
Where Is Kenilworth Gardens in Wilmette?
Kenilworth Gardens is made up mainly of six east-west streets between Ridge Road and Hunter Road, each about two blocks long. From north to south:
- Beechwood Avenue
- Kenilworth Avenue
- Chestnut Avenue
- Thornwood Avenue
- Greenwood Avenue
- Elmwood Avenue
The western edge depends on who you ask. Some people extend Kenilworth Gardens toward Illinois Road, where it meets Indian Hill Estates. These streets are strictly residential, with no commercial businesses.
Kenilworth Gardens History
Kenilworth Gardens didn't start out as part of Wilmette. From 1874 to 1919, this land was inside Gross Point, a separate town west of Ridge Road. Gross Point went broke and ceased to exist in 1919, and Wilmette annexed the territory in 1924.
By then, developers had already platted four subdivisions:
- Nathan's subdivision (1891), along the north side of Elmwood Avenue
- King's Fields (1917), along Chestnut Avenue
- Lake Shore Highlands (1922), along Thornwood and Greenwood avenues
- Kenilworth Gardens (1923), along Beechwood and Kenilworth avenues
The streets had different names back then. From north to south: Kenilworth Drive North (now Beechwood), Kenilworth Drive South (now Kenilworth Avenue), Clover Road (now Chestnut), Washington Avenue (now Thornwood), Hollywood Avenue (now Greenwood) and North Avenue (now Elmwood). Street names and house numbers were changed shortly after annexation to line up with the rest of Wilmette.
Growth took time. In 1929, Wilmette's postmaster announced that because there were so few houses and the streets were in poor condition, residents who wanted mail delivery would need to put up mailboxes where their streets met Ridge Road. The 1930 census shows only a few residents living in the area.
Kenilworth Gardens Homes
In the three later subdivisions, most lots have about 50 feet of street frontage. Nathan's subdivision on Elmwood originally had 25-foot lots, but homes there were built on parcels of at least two lots, matching the pattern on the other streets.
- Home sizes: from under 2,000 square feet to about 6,000 square feet
- Bedrooms: mostly three to five or more bedrooms
- Age: many homes date from 1940 to 1969, with a number built before 1940 and newer homes built since
- Updates: Wilmette's own history of the neighborhood notes that most Kenilworth Gardens homes have been modernized
Kenilworth Gardens Home Prices
Demand here has been strong for years with many prices often above $1 million. Between July 2017 and July 2018, Kenilworth Gardens had more home sales than any other Wilmette subdivision.
Kenilworth Gardens Schools
Kenilworth Gardens is in Wilmette Public Schools District 39. The schools that typically serve it:
- Harper Elementary School (K–4), 1101 Dartmouth Street, at the west end of Greenwood Avenue
- Highcrest Middle School (5–6)
- Wilmette Junior High School (7–8)
- New Trier High School (9–12)
Harper sits right in the neighborhood, and Wilmette's own history of Kenilworth Gardens calls the school a huge part of what holds the community together. Kids connect at Harper, and parents connect through their kids' friends.
District 39 notes that its attendance map is approximate, especially at the edges, and that the district has the final say on placement. Always confirm a specific address with the District 39 school locator.
Parks and Getting Around
- Mallinckrodt Park is just south of the neighborhood, on land that was once the campus of the Sisters of Christian Charity, whose motherhouse opened on the south side of Elmwood Avenue in 1916. The Wilmette Park District agreed to buy the campus in 2002. Today the 14-acre park has walking paths and gardens, and the park district's Mallinckrodt Center operates in a historic 1916 building. The former girls' school building at 1041 Ridge Road was converted into condominiums in 2005.
- Metra: Kenilworth Gardens is about a mile to the Metra with service to Chicago.
- Driving: Lake Avenue connects to I-94 (the Edens).
What to Think About Before You Buy
- Lot size. Most lots have 50 feet of frontage, so homes sit relatively close together. Some buyers love that. Others want more space between houses.
- Home age. Many homes here are decades old, even when they've been updated. A thorough inspection and a careful attorney review protect you.
- School boundaries. Confirm the address with District 39 before you write an offer.
Is Kenilworth Gardens Right for Your Family?
Kenilworth Gardens is worth a look if you want:
- An elementary school walking distance from the neighborhood
- Quiet, strictly residential streets
- District 39 and New Trier
- A strong neighborhood community
Most of my clients are dual-income couples upsizing into a 4 to 5 bedroom home, and the timing question almost always comes back to school. Do we move before kindergarten? Before fifth grade? Do we sell first or buy first? That's the transition I help families plan. My Growing Roots Method guide walks through how I approach buy-sell timing.
Kenilworth Gardens FAQ
Is Kenilworth Gardens in Kenilworth or Wilmette? Kenilworth Gardens is in Wilmette, zip code 60091. It is not part of the Village of Kenilworth.
What streets are in Kenilworth Gardens? The core streets are Beechwood, Kenilworth, Chestnut, Thornwood, Greenwood and Elmwood avenues, between Ridge Road and Hunter Road.
What school district is Kenilworth Gardens in? Wilmette Public Schools District 39. Homes are typically served by Harper Elementary, Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High, then New Trier High School. Confirm any address with District 39.
When did Kenilworth Gardens become part of Wilmette? Wilmette annexed the area in 1924. Before that, it was part of Gross Point, a separate town that dissolved in 1919.
Where does Kenilworth Gardens end and Indian Hill Estates begin? There's no official line. Kenilworth Gardens' core streets run between Ridge Road and Hunter Road, and some people extend it west toward Illinois Road, where Indian Hill Estates begins.
What's the difference between Kenilworth Gardens and McKenzie Square? Kenilworth Gardens is served by Harper Elementary and sits west of Ridge Road. McKenzie Square is served by McKenzie Elementary and sits east of Ridge Road, closer to downtown Wilmette.
Thinking About Kenilworth Gardens?
I walk Wilmette's streets to learn each neighborhood and its history. If Kenilworth Gardens is on your list, what's drawing you to it: Harper, the streets, or something else? Let's connect!
Sarah Jividen, Sarah Jividen Real Estate | @properties Christie's International Real Estate. I help families upsize in Wilmette and the North Shore before their kids hit a school transition.
