The CAGE, Wilmette IL

The CAGE, Wilmette: Chestnut, Ashland, Greenwood and Elmwood

The CAGE is one of Wilmette's best-known neighborhood nicknames. It's an acronym for its four core streets: Chestnut, Ashland, Greenwood and Elmwood avenues. It sits north of Lake Avenue and east of Green Bay Road, in the northeast corner of the village near the Kenilworth border.

One detail that confuses newcomers: Chestnut, Greenwood and Elmwood also run west of Ridge Road through Kenilworth Gardens. When people say "the CAGE," they mean the stretches in east Wilmette, closer to the lake.

Contact Sarah

The CAGE at a Glance

Where It Is

The CAGE sits in northeast Wilmette, north of Lake Avenue, with its four namesake streets running from Green Bay Road east toward Lake Michigan and Kenilworth just to the north. The nickname isn't an official boundary, so confirm the school assignment for any address with the District 39 School Locator.

History of the CAGE

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 the CAGE

Who the CAGE fits

The CAGE 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.

The Cage: Frequently Asked Questions

The CAGE is a neighborhood in northeast Wilmette named for its four core streets: Chestnut, Ashland, Greenwood and Elmwood avenues. It sits north of Lake Avenue and runs from Green Bay Road toward the lake, near the Kenilworth border. Most homes here were built between the late 1800s and World War II, including Queen Anne Victorians, Prairie School houses, and Tudor and Colonial Revival homes. Chestnut was my favorite street to walk when I first moved to Wilmette.

The CAGE is in Wilmette Public Schools District 39 and is served by Central Elementary (K–4). Students then go to Highcrest Middle School (5–6), Wilmette Junior High (7–8) and New Trier High School (9–12). "The CAGE" is a nickname, not an official boundary, so always confirm a specific address with the D39 School Locator.

Much of it is. The Ouilmette North Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. It covers 46 blocks bounded by Chestnut Avenue, Sheridan Road, Lake Avenue and 13th Street, with 911 contributing buildings, almost all of them houses. If you're buying here, ask about any local landmark rules for the specific house before you plan a renovation.

Yes. Gillson Park, Wilmette's main lakefront park, sits at the CAGE's southeast corner where Lake Avenue meets Sheridan Road. 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 Wilmette Metra station on Green Bay Road is a short walk from the west end of the CAGE. The Union Pacific North line runs from Wilmette to Ogilvie in downtown Chicago in roughly 30 minutes, with some faster morning express trains. Wilmette also has a CTA Purple Line stop at 4th and Linden.

No. The CAGE is one pocket of East Wilmette, the older, lake-side part of the village between Green Bay Road and Lake Michigan. East Wilmette also takes in the blocks south of Lake Avenue around downtown and the Bahá'í House of Worship. For the bigger picture, see my East Wilmette neighborhood guide.

Looking for a Home in the CAGE?

Homes on Chestnut, Ashland, Greenwood and Elmwood don't come up often. Tell me what you're looking for and I'll let you know as soon as something in the CAGE fits, or start with my free North Shore Upsizing Guide.

Get the Upsizing Guide Let's Connect
Woman in a navy top smiling outdoors among leafy greenery and colorful flowers.

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.

Let's Connect

Work With Sarah

Sarah delivers a seamless, personalized real estate experience, guiding clients with expertise and genuine care at every step. Whether buying, selling, or investing, she turns real estate goals into confident, successful outcomes. Ready to make your next move? Let Sarah guide you every step of the way!
Let's Connect

Contact Details

Sarah Jividen

Phone

(224) 260-9158

Email

[email protected]

Address

30 Green Bay Rd Winnetka IL 60093

Submit a Message

By providing your contact information to Sarah Jividen, your personal information will be processed in accordance with Sarah Jividen's Privacy Policy. By checking the box(es) below, you expressly consent to receive marketing or promotional real estate communication from Sarah Jividen in the manner selected by you. For SMS text messages, message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase of any goods or services. You may opt out of receiving further communications from Sarah Jividen at any time. To opt out of receiving SMS text messages, reply STOP to unsubscribe. SMS text messaging is subject to our Terms of Use.

Message sent successfully!

Call or text Sarah · (224) 260-9158 Call Text