If you're looking for a beautiful home in an affluent community with excellent schools, family amenities, in the north suburbs, right on the shore of Lake Michigan, then you need to look at Wilmette real estate. Located just north of Evanston and bordered by Lake Michigan, Wilmette offers stunning landscapes, fantastic parks and beaches, and some truly spectacular homes. It's been mentioned in national lists as a great place to live and one of the best places to raise a family. For professionals, Wilmette offers a community full of involved neighbors and highly rated schools where families can grow and succeed.
Before European immigrants settled in the area, the Potowatomi Indians had a village near what became present day Wilmette. The town took its name from Antoine Ouilmette who was married to a Potowatomi Indian and helped facilitate the Treaty of Prairie Du Chien in 1829. He was granted 1,280 acres of the area (current day Wilmette and Evanston) by the US Government. His name was anglicized to the current day spelling at some point after. in the late 1840s, Ouilmette sold his acres to developers as the area grew.
Also of historical significance, the USS Wilmette was commissioned in 1918. That naval gunboat was originally christened the SS Eastland, a name any Chicago historian would recognize. The Eastland was a passenger ship set to sail on a Western Electric picnic for its employees in July of 1915. These were factory employees, largely immigrant class, who looked forward to this one yearly treat of a boat ride and outdoor activities for their families. The Eastland capsized in the Chicago River, causing the largest single incident loss of life in Great Lakes History. A recorded 844 passengers and crew members lost their lives that day. While the Eastland disaster doesn't have any other link to the village of Wilmette, the re-christening of the boat is definitely of interest.
Wilmette was named the number 1 "Best Place to Live In Illinois" by the website Home Snacks and it's also been named one of the top ten "Best Places to Raise Your Kids" out of the entire nation by Business Week. That's pretty impressive and there are a great number of reasons why this village is so highly rated among families. The median income in Wilmette is $127,893.00 compared to the state's average of $56,210.00. Residents are well educated, with over 84% holding a Bachelor's Degree and a whopping 47% holding a Graduate or Professional Degree. The median home value is also quite a bit higher than the state average at $568,240.00. All and all, this paints the picture that Wilmette is a fantastic area for those who are highly educated, with a better than average income.
For families, this means is that Wilmette offers excellent school districts. New Trier High School is highly rated with national recognition for its programs. While the public schools perform excellently against other districts in Illinois, many Wilmette residents opt to send their children to private schools and there are a number to choose from in the area. One of the great benefits to living in Wilmette is the landscape. Families have use of 63 acres of beachfront parks and there are plenty of family-friendly activities for them to attend year round. For those who commute into the downtown Chicago area either for work or to take advantage of the many events and cultural centers, there are an ample number of public transit options to choose from, including the Pace bus and CTA Purple line, as well as a number of trains. Wilmette offers a convenient location, far enough away from the city to remain a great oasis with beautiful homes and perfectly landscaped lawns but close enough to have anything the city offers in easy reach.
Park district amenities include the beaches, marina, swimming pool, tennis courts, and an ice skating facility for the winter. While swimming at the beach can be limited at certain times of year, there are facilities for beach volleyball, soccer, and a variety of outside activities which residents partake in. Families can be found spending hours together along the lakefront, barbecuing and taking in the scenery. There's also an outdoor theater here, the Wallace Bowl, which holds performances throughout the summer months. For things to do away from the beach, Wilmette has a number of great shopping districts and the Wilmette Theater, which hosts movies as well as live performances. For those with children, the Khol's Children's Museum is a popular place to spend the day.
One stunning draw to the Wilmette area is the fantastic architecture. There are two houses in the village which were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and there are a number of gorgeous churches and religious buildings from different periods and styles. The First Congregational Church is a Tudor style and the oldest church in Wilmette. The Trinity United Methodist Church was built in the 1920's and has gorgeous stained glass windows with a neo-gothic design. You'll likely recognize the building - it was used in the filming of the movie, "Home Alone." St. Joseph's is another great example of religious architecture in this area.
The most elaborate religious architectural attraction in Wilmette is the Bahai House of Worship, which the Illinois Bureau of Tourism named one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois." There is no shortage of beautiful architecture in Wilmette.
All of the homes may not have been built by Frank Lloyd Wright, but the average residence in this area is spacious and picturesque. Wilmette has an abundance of charm and a great quality of life for those who like living close to the lake front and can afford the area.
