Wilmette, IL — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Illinois·Wilmette

Cook County · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin · population 27,443

InvestorsShrinking
Wilmette, IL
Image: Wikipedia · Wilmette, Illinois
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
73
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Wilmette stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 11.2% in the last year. averaging 7.3% annual growth over 5 years. population shrinking 0.7% per year.

Median home $976,392
1-year +11.2%
5-yr CAGR +7.3%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.7%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$976k$577k$723k$869k$1015k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
50/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 19.2
Lean buy

At a 19.2 price-to-rent ratio, Wilmette is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
92 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
76 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
35 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
54 · w10%
Long thesis

Wilmette has averaged 7.3% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+11.2% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Wilmette's population is shrinking 0.7% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About Wilmette

Wilmette is a city in Cook County, Illinois, with an estimated population of 27,443. It anchors the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. The population has contracted 0.7% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Wilmette is $976,392 as of 2026-04, up 11.2% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Wilmette average $4,246 per month. The composite momentum score is 73 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Trend still working: prices up 11.2% in the last 12 months — buyers are still chasing inventory.
●Healthy 5-year run: +7.3% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

●Flat or shrinking population: -0.7% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
●Premium territory: $976,392 median home is a high bar to clear — affordability constrains the buyer pool.

About Wilmette (Wikipedia)

Wilmette is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Bordering Lake Michigan, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Skokie, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston, Illinois, it is located 14 miles (23 km) north of Chicago's downtown district. Wilmette had a population of 28,170 at the 2020 census. The first and only Baháʼí House of Worship in North America is located in Wilmette. Wilmette is also home to Central Elementary School and Romona Elementary School, both recent recipients of the National Blue Ribbon award bestowed by the U.S. Department of Education.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Cook County right now.

NWS active alerts (IL)Illinois Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Cook County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Wilmette

1 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Ouilmette North$2,065,374+10.8%

Cities like Wilmette

Oak Brook, IL75 · RisingWestern Springs, IL73 · RisingLa Grange, IL70 · RisingEast Peoria, IL74 · Rising

Run the numbers for Wilmette

ToolCan I afford Wilmette?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Wilmette rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Wilmette to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolWilmette cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
33° / 18°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
85° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
189
~52% of year
Annual precip
38″ rain
22″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Wilmette listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$78,400
Illinois state median
Top industries (state-level)
FinanceManufacturingHealthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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