East Wilmette, IL

East Wilmette: Historic Streets by the Lake

East Wilmette is the part of Wilmette where you can walk to the beach. It sits roughly east of the Metra tracks, around Sheridan Road and Lake Avenue, with some of the village’s oldest homes on tree-lined streets near the lake. 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.

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East Wilmette at a Glance

Where It Is

East Wilmette, IL runs from roughly the Metra tracks east to Lake Michigan, centered on Sheridan Road and Lake Avenue, with Evanston to the south and Kenilworth to the north, and takes in smaller pockets like the CAGE. There’s no official boundary, so confirm any address on the District 39 School Locator.

History of East Wilmette

Much of present-day Wilmette sits on 1,280 acres granted to Archange Ouilmette and her children under the 1829 Treaty of Prairie du Chien. The family had sold the land by 1848, and Wilmette incorporated as a village in 1872.

Many of the houses on these streets were built between the village’s founding and World War II, which is why so much of the area is now recognized as the Ouilmette North Historic District.

Homes And Streets

What's Nearby

Schools Serving East Wilmette

Who East Wilmette fits

East Wilmette is worth a look if you want to walk to the beach, love older architecture, and are comfortable with the upkeep an older home can bring. A thorough inspection and a careful attorney review matter here.

East Wilmette: Frequently Asked Questions

East Wilmette is the neighborhood between the Metra tracks and Lake Michigan. It’s bordered by Green Bay Road on the west, the lake on the east, and Kenilworth on the north. It’s one of Wilmette’s informal neighborhood names, not an official subdivision. Locals use it to mean the older, lake-side part of the village, walkable to the beach, the train, and downtown.

The CAGE is a neighborhood in East Wilmette named for its four streets: Chestnut, Ashland, Greenwood, and Elmwood Avenues, running east of Green Bay Road to the lake. It’s known for Victorian, colonial, and traditional homes, many over 75 years old, with some dating to the 1890s. Chestnut was my favorite street to walk when I first moved to Wilmette. Read my full guide to the CAGE.

East Wilmette is in Wilmette Public Schools District 39, and homes go to Central Elementary (K-4). Students then attend Highcrest Middle School (grades 5–6), Wilmette Junior High (7–8), and New Trier High School (9–12). Always confirm a specific address with the D39 School Locator, because district boundaries don’t match village lines.

Yes. East Wilmette borders Lake Michigan, and Gillson Park, Wilmette’s main lakefront park, is right there. Gillson has swimming beaches, a sailing beach, a dog beach, picnic areas, and summer concerts at the Wallace Bowl. The Wilmette Park District runs three swimming beaches (Gillson Main, South Beach, and Langdon Beach), and you’ll need a season or daily pass during beach season.

The Metra Union Pacific North train from Wilmette to Ogilvie in downtown Chicago takes roughly 30 minutes, with some faster morning express trains. Many East Wilmette streets are a short walk from the station. Wilmette also has a CTA Purple Line stop at 4th and Linden.

East Wilmette is the older, lake-side part of town, close to the beach, the Metra, and downtown. West Wilmette, west of Skokie Boulevard, has mostly mid-century modern and split-level homes on wider streets with bigger yards, near Old Orchard and I-94. In my experience walking these streets, West Wilmette often gets you more house for the money, while East Wilmette gets you walkability to the lake and town.

Property Listings

Looking for a Home in East Wilmette?

From historic single-family homes in the CAGE to condos along the lake, East Wilmette has options close to Gillson Park, downtown Wilmette and the Metra. Tell me what you're looking for and I'll let you know as soon as something in East Wilmette fits, or start with my free North Shore Upsizing Guide.

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Why work with me

I know the Central Elementary area block by block, from the Village Center and Metra station east to Gillson Park and the lake. Homes close to the lake and those near downtown can feel like different neighborhoods, and I'll help you find the blocks that fit how your family actually lives.

Most of my clients are families upsizing before a school transition. I manage the timing on both sides, the sale and the purchase, so you can make the move with a plan instead of in a rush.

Curious about East Wilmette? Tell me how close to the lake you want to be, and I'll show you what that costs.

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Contact Details

Sarah Jividen

Phone

(224) 260-9158

Email

[email protected]

Address

30 Green Bay Rd Winnetka IL 60093

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