Wilmette is mostly a town of detached houses, from older homes on tree-lined blocks to newer construction, with a smaller set of condos and townhomes near the village center and along the main corridors. It sits just north of Evanston on the lake, with both Metra and the CTA Purple Line, which is a big part of why city buyers look here first.
Detached houses
12 months ending Sept. 2026 | 12 months ending Sept. 2025 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
Median sale price | $1,400,036 | $1,239,500 | +13.0% |
Average market time | 25 days | 29 days | 4 days faster |
Sale price as % of original list price | 104.7% | 103.0% | +1.7 pts |
Homes for sale | 18 | 25 | -28% |
Condos and townhomes
12 months ending Sept. 2026 | 12 months ending Sept. 2025 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
Median sale price | $600,000 | $517,500 | +15.9% |
Average market time | 31 days | 26 days | 5 days slower |
Sale price as % of original list price | 101.5% | 100.3% | +1.2 pts |
Homes for sale | 8 | 9 | -11% |
Source: MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data), Wilmette (area 91), detached and attached single-family, rolling 12-month figures as of Oct. 6, 2026. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
What these numbers say:
With this little inventory, it helps to have your financing and your must-haves settled before you start touring, so you can decide clearly when the right home comes up.
Detached houses. Most of Wilmette's housing. You'll see older homes with original character, mid-century houses, and newer construction where older homes were replaced. On older homes, a thorough inspection matters, especially for roofs, foundations, sewer lines and electrical.
Condos and townhomes. A smaller share, mostly near the village center and along the main corridors. Before you write an offer on any condo, look at the building's reserves and board minutes. My guide to HOA reserves and special assessments covers what to ask for.
Wilmette has Metra's Union Pacific North line at the Wilmette station, plus the CTA Purple Line's northern terminal at Linden. That mix gives you a choice between a faster Metra ride downtown and the CTA's more frequent service. Gillson Park and its beach are on the lakefront, and the village center is walkable from many nearby blocks.
If you're still deciding whether Wilmette fits, start with my Living in Wilmette guide. For a side-by-side look at Wilmette and the other North Shore towns, read Moving From Chicago to the North Shore. Comparing towns? See Evanston homes for sale.
For the 12 months ending September 2026, the median sale price for detached houses in Wilmette was $1,400,036, up 13.0% from a year earlier. Condos and townhomes had a median of $600,000, according to MRED.
Over the 12 months ending September 2026, Wilmette detached houses averaged 25 days of market time and sold for an average of 104.7% of their original list price. Condos and townhomes averaged 31 days, according to MRED.
MRED reported 18 detached houses and 8 condos or townhomes for sale in Wilmette as of September 2026, down from 25 and 9 a year earlier.
Yes. The CTA Purple Line ends at Linden in Wilmette, and Metra's Union Pacific North line stops at the Wilmette station.
Yes, though they're a small share of Wilmette's housing. Before you buy, review the building's budget, reserve study and recent board minutes.
