Wilmette, IL
Union Pacific North32 min to the Loop
68
Walk Score
52
Transit Score
1
Cars needed
32m
Commute to Loop
Estimated annual true-cost factors
Based on an example $2,500/month housing cost, 1 car needed, and a 32-minute commute to the Loop via Union Pacific North.
Property tax varies by address. Use the calculator for a precise estimate including your local rate.
About Wilmette
Wilmette is the first true North Shore suburb: the Baháʼí House of Worship gleaming above the lake, Gillson Park's beach, and elementary schools that anchor its property values. It's quieter money than Winnetka, more village than estate, with a walkable center around the Metra and L stations.
The Purple Line terminates at Linden and Metra's UP North stops downtown, giving two rail routes to the Loop in 30 to 40 minutes. Many households still run two cars, but one is feasible near the stations. Prices and taxes are both serious. Wilmette suits families buying the school district and the lake, with a transit bonus most North Shore towns can't offer.
Wilmette offers moderate transit access: a single car per household is usually sufficient. One car typically covers the gap that transit leaves.
At roughly $12,000/year for 1 car, transportation is a moderate line item in Wilmette's true cost. Combined with a 32-minute commute valued at $6,667/year, the true cost of suburban living in Wilmette can significantly exceed what the rent or mortgage alone suggests.
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