West Wilmette is the largest part of the village by area, and it isn't one neighborhood. It's three: the Romona area in the middle, Northwest Wilmette toward Winnetka, and Southwest Wilmette near Old Orchard and the Edens. What they share is wider streets, bigger yards, and generally more house for the money than closer to the lake.
West of Ridge Road was once Gross Point, a German farming community that merged into Wilmette through annexations in 1924 and 1926. The Edens Expressway opened in 1951, and the postwar baby boom brought rapid change to west Wilmette. That's why so many homes out here are mid-century.
Area | Where it is | Schools | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
Romona area | Around Romona Elementary, in the middle of the west side | District 39 (Romona) | A school-centered neighborhood |
Northwest Wilmette | North toward the Winnetka border, around Locust and Hibbard roads | District 39 or Avoca District 37, by address | Westmoreland Country Club, Keay Nature Center |
Southwest Wilmette | West of Skokie Boulevard, near Old Orchard and I-94 | [Sarah: confirm] | Mid-century homes, the Wilmette Golf Course |
School assignments follow district maps, not these area names. Always confirm a specific address with the district.
The Romona area takes its name from Romona Elementary, at 600 Romona Road. Like McKenzie Square, it's a neighborhood people identify by its school. Wilmette Junior High is nearby at 620 Locust Road.
Homes: [Sarah: styles and eras you see on your walks]
Price range: [Sarah: current price range]. Prices vary by lot size and how updated a home is.
Northwest Wilmette runs north toward the Winnetka border. Locust Road passes Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette Junior High and the District 39 offices on its way there. Hibbard Road runs north from Old Glenview Road and ends at Keay Nature Center.
Schools: some addresses are in District 39 and some in Avoca School District 37 (Avoca West Elementary, then Marie Murphy School). This matters, so confirm each address.
Nearby: Westmoreland Country Club on Old Glenview Road, Keay Nature Center, and Indian Hill Estates to the east
Homes: [Sarah: styles and eras]
Price range: [Sarah: current price range]
Southwest Wilmette covers the pockets west of Skokie Boulevard, close to Westfield Old Orchard and I-94. Streets like Hartzell are tree-lined and wider, with bigger yards, a few blocks from the Wilmette Community Center. A buyer I worked with called it a hidden gem.
Homes: mostly mid-century modern homes and split-levels
Subdivisions: Wilshire Estates, single-family homes built in the mid-1950s south of Glenview Road; Fairway Oaks, near the Wilmette Golf Course
Schools: [Sarah: confirm the elementary school]
Price range: [Sarah: current price range]
West Wilmette suits families who want more space, an easier highway commute, and a quieter street, and who don't need to walk to the lake or downtown.
What are the neighborhoods in West Wilmette? Locals generally think of three areas: the Romona area, Northwest Wilmette toward Winnetka, and Southwest Wilmette near Old Orchard.
Why are so many West Wilmette homes mid-century? The Edens Expressway opened in 1951, and the postwar boom brought rapid building to west Wilmette.
Is West Wilmette in Avoca or District 39? Most of it is District 39, but some northwest addresses are in Avoca District 37. Confirm any address with the district.
Is West Wilmette a better value? Generally you get more house and more yard for the money than in neighborhoods closer to the lake.
Would you trade a walk to town for a bigger yard? Let's connect.
Related: Indian Hill Estates · The College Streets · All Wilmette neighborhoods
