Living in the McKenzie Elementary Area of Wilmette

McKenzie is the part of Wilmette where you can walk your kids to school, then keep walking to the train. The attendance area sits in central Wilmette, close to the Village Center, the library and the Metra station. I'm Sarah Jividen, and I've walked these streets for my "walking every street in Wilmette" series. Here's what I'd tell a friend who was looking here.

Contact Sarah

School at a glance

Where it is

The McKenzie area is generally south of Lake Avenue and west of Green Bay Road. Locals use the name "McKenzie Square" for the blocks right around the school, roughly Lake Avenue to Wilmette Avenue and Green Bay Road to Ridge Road. The full attendance area is bigger than that, so confirm any address on the District 39 School Locator.

Homes and streets

Daily life

Who it fits

McKenzie works well for families who want walkability and older homes with character, and who are fine trading a big yard for being close to town. Like any established neighborhood, McKenzie comes with tradeoffs. Lots are smaller, and many homes date to the early 1900s, so it's smart to budget for updates to older systems over time. Fully renovated four-bedroom homes are in demand and don't stay on the market long, so it helps to be ready to move quickly. Buyers who are open to a home with good bones and room to make it their own usually find more options here.

FAQs

An informal local name for the blocks around McKenzie Elementary, roughly between Green Bay Road, Ridge Road, Lake Avenue and Wilmette Avenue. It's not an official subdivision. See my McKenzie Square neighborhood guide for more.

Much of the area is a short walk to the Wilmette Metra station.

New Trier, after Highcrest and Wilmette Junior High.

Mostly early-1900s Foursquares, Georgians, farmhouses with porches, bungalows and Cape Cods, plus some newer construction.

Many McKenzie-area homes have garages off the alley instead of front driveways.

Yes. Much of the area is a short walk to the Village Center, the library, parks and the Metra.

Sarah Jividen standing in a glass doorway, wearing a navy blue dress.

Why work with me

As a Wilmette real estate agent, I've walked McKenzie street by street for my "walking every street in Wilmette" series, from the Prairie School and Craftsman bungalows on Oak Circle to the blocks around McKenzie Elementary. Here, a home's age and condition matter as much as its size. I help buyers read older homes carefully, and I'll tell you plainly when one is worth it.

Most of my clients are families upsizing before a school transition. I manage the buy-and-sell timing so you aren't carrying two homes or rushing a decision.

Looking at homes near McKenzie? Tell me what matters most on your list, and I'll tell you which streets fit.

Let's Connect

Contact Details

Sarah Jividen

Phone

(224) 260-9158

Email

[email protected]

Address

30 Green Bay Rd Winnetka IL 60093

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