Kenilworth · Cook County · IL
Homes for sale in
Kenilworth.
- Active listings
- 9
- Median list
- $3.05M
- Avg time on market
- 74 days
- Sold · last year
- 0
Photo: Thshriver / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Active listings
9 homes on the market
About the community
Living in Kenilworth.
Kenilworth is the newest and smallest of the nine North Shore lakefront suburbs, a meticulously planned village of just 0.61 square miles that sits squarely between Wilmette and Winnetka. Founded in 1889 by businessman Joseph Sears, it was laid out with large lots, generous setbacks, and streets angled to maximize sunlight, design principles that still define its character today. With roughly 2,500 residents and a homeownership rate near 97 percent, it is one of the most affluent communities in Illinois. Families are drawn here for the Joseph Sears School in District 38 and the renowned New Trier Township High School District 203. The village deliberately keeps no commercial strip, so residents walk to neighboring Wilmette and Winnetka for shops and dining, while the Metra station provides a roughly 28 to 38 minute ride to downtown Chicago.
At a glance
~2,500 residents
Home to 2,514 residents at the 2020 census, making it one of the smallest North Shore villages.
Among Illinois' most affluent
The median household income is about $250,001, among the highest in the state.
Median home value ~$1.56M
The median property value was roughly $1.56 million in 2024, far above the national average.
Joseph Sears School + New Trier
The single Joseph Sears School in District 38 feeds into the nationally ranked New Trier Township High School District 203.
UP-N Metra
The Kenilworth station on the Union Pacific North Line runs express trains to Ogilvie in about 28 minutes.
Planned in 1889
Founded by Joseph Sears as a deliberately designed suburb with large lots, no alleys, and sunlight-oriented streets.
Notable architecture
Includes a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School home, the Hiram Baldwin House, and works by George Washington Maher.
Lake Michigan beach
One of nine North Shore communities on the lake, with a village-run beach requiring a seasonal pass.
What’s close
Kenilworth occupies a compact 0.61 square mile parcel on the Lake Michigan shore about 15 miles north of downtown Chicago, wedged between Wilmette and Winnetka.
- Distance to the Loop
- About 15 to 17 miles north of downtown Chicago, roughly a 26 minute drive in normal traffic.
- Bordering towns
- Directly bordered by Wilmette to the south and Winnetka to the north, with Lake Michigan to the east.
- Lakefront
- Sits on the shore of Lake Michigan as one of the nine North Shore lakefront communities.
- No commercial strip
- The village has no downtown of its own, so residents shop and dine in adjacent Wilmette and Winnetka.
- Metra station
- The Kenilworth station sits on Kenilworth Avenue near Green Bay Road, across from Village Hall.
- Green Bay Trail
- Runs along the village's western edge, linking it on foot or bike to Wilmette and Winnetka.
What it’s actually like to live here
Daily life in Kenilworth is quiet, residential, and family-centered. The village intentionally has no restaurants, coffee shops, or boutiques within its borders, so residents walk or bike a few minutes into Wilmette and Winnetka for shopping, dining, and errands. The community revolves heavily around the Joseph Sears School, with roughly sixty students per grade from junior kindergarten through eighth grade, and around the parks, church, and lakefront that Joseph Sears designed into the original plan. A large share of households have children, and the average household size is unusually large for an affluent suburb, reflecting its appeal to families.
Recreation centers on Lake Michigan and the village's green spaces. Kenilworth Beach offers a sandy lakefront swimming area and terraces with lake views, with beach passes required between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Green Bay Trail provides a scenic running and biking corridor along the western edge of the village, and many residents commute downtown by Metra. The architectural fabric, from Prairie School homes to grand period estates, gives the streets a museum-like character that residents take pride in preserving.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Kenilworth community pages coming soon.
Browse the listings above. Detailed neighborhood pages with market stats, school info, and lifestyle take-downs land here as we roll them out.
Schools
Districts serving Kenilworth.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D38Grades Pre-K – 8
Kenilworth School District 38 (The Joseph Sears School)
Schools serving the area
- The Joseph Sears School
Serves all of the village of Kenilworth from junior kindergarten through eighth grade. The Joseph Sears School is the district's only school, with roughly sixty students per grade.
- D203Grades 9 – 12
New Trier Township High School District 203
Schools serving the area
- New Trier High School (Winnetka campus)
- New Trier High School (Northfield freshman campus)
Serves Kenilworth along with Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield, and parts of Wilmette and Glenview. Kenilworth has no high school of its own and feeds into New Trier.
Around town
What there is to do in Kenilworth.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
Kenilworth Beach
A village-run Lake Michigan beach with a sandy swimming area, lakefront terraces, and seasonal beach passes for residents and nonresidents.
- Parks
Green Bay Trail
A paved running and biking path along the village's western edge that connects on foot or bike to Wilmette and Winnetka.
- Shopping
Plaza del Lago
A historic Spanish-style open-air shopping center with boutiques and dining just south of the village in adjacent Wilmette.
- Culture
Hiram Baldwin House
A 1905 Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School residence and a noted stop for architecture enthusiasts touring the North Shore.
- Culture
Kenilworth Historical Society
The local historical society preserving and presenting the story of Joseph Sears and his planned lakefront village.
- Family
The Joseph Sears School
The village's single public school and a central community hub serving junior kindergarten through eighth grade.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Kenilworth.
MetraUP-N line
- Stations: Kenilworth
- Terminal: Ogilvie Transportation Center
- Distance: 15 miles to downtown Chicago
DriveBy car
- Routes: Green Bay Road · Sheridan Road · I-94 (Edens) nearby
- O'Hare Airport: ~27 min
- Chicago Loop: ~26 min
By the numbers
Kenilworth taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.47%
effective avg
Sales tax
10.00%
combined
Median sold price
$2,420,000
MRED · last 12 mo (47 sales)
Median household income
$250,001
ACS
How Kenilworth got here
A bit of history.
Kenilworth was founded in 1889 when Joseph Sears purchased 223.6 acres of farmland between the Chicago and North Western Railroad and Lake Michigan, forming The Kenilworth Company with several associates to build his suburban vision. Sears built the town on a set of founding principles that included large lots, high standards of construction, and no alleys, along with a restrictive racial provision later widely condemned. The plan called for tree-lined roadways, generous park lands, and streets angled to maximize sunlight in each home. On February 4, 1896, the village reached the required 300 residents and was incorporated, with an elected board assuming municipal functions from Sears.
The planned community attracted national attention and was visited by many noted architects who attended the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Architect Franklin Pierce Burnham joined The Kenilworth Company and designed both the railroad station, built in 1891, and the Kenilworth Union Church. The village became a showcase for early twentieth century residential architecture, including the Hiram Baldwin House, a Prairie School home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905, and work by Chicago-area architect George Washington Maher. The village's only public school, the Joseph Sears School, is named for its founder.
The questions buyers actually ask
Kenilworth FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Kenilworth. If yours isn't here, text 815-355-0582, same-day reply.
- What schools serve Kenilworth?
- Kenilworth children attend the Joseph Sears School in District 38 from junior kindergarten through eighth grade, then move on to New Trier Township High School District 203, which has a freshman campus in Northfield and an upperclass campus in Winnetka. New Trier is one of the most highly regarded public high schools in Illinois.
- How long is the commute to downtown Chicago?
- The Kenilworth Metra station on the Union Pacific North Line reaches Ogilvie Transportation Center in about 28 minutes on express trains and up to 38 minutes on local trains. By car, the Loop is roughly a 26 minute drive in normal traffic.
- What are property taxes like in Kenilworth?
- Kenilworth's median effective property tax rate is about 2.47 percent, higher than the Cook County median. Because home values are so high, the median annual tax bill runs into the tens of thousands of dollars. Always confirm the actual bill for a specific address before writing an offer.
- What is Kenilworth known for?
- Kenilworth is known as the North Shore's smallest and most deliberately planned village, founded in 1889 by Joseph Sears with large lots, no alleys, and sunlight-oriented streets. It is celebrated for its lakefront setting, distinguished architecture including a Frank Lloyd Wright home, and top-tier schools.
- How much do homes cost in Kenilworth?
- The median property value was about $1.56 million in 2024, making Kenilworth one of the most expensive housing markets in Illinois. Prices vary widely depending on lot size, proximity to the lake, and architectural significance.
- Are there shops and restaurants in Kenilworth?
- No. The village intentionally has no commercial district, so residents walk or drive a few minutes into neighboring Wilmette and Winnetka, or to Plaza del Lago in Wilmette, for shopping and dining.
- Does Kenilworth have lake access?
- Yes. Kenilworth is one of nine North Shore communities on Lake Michigan and operates Kenilworth Beach, a sandy swimming area with lakefront terraces that requires a beach pass in the summer season.
Your local agent
Joe knows Kenilworth
Most agents will list anything. I focus on the communities I actually know, and the details that determine resale value here aren't in the MLS write-up: which lots back to open space, which streets carry the most consistent demand, which floor plans buyers ask for by name, and what each HOA actually covers.
When you're ready to tour or list, you want someone who's walked the streets, talked to the residents, and read the last 50 closed comps in this market specifically. That's how I work. Text or call any time, and I'll give you a real take, not a brochure.
- Lives in McHenry County
- Local specialist
- Kenilworth specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Thinking of selling?
What's your home actually worth?
Not a Zestimate. A real CMA from someone who's sold this neighborhood, knows the floor plan premiums, and can tell you which upgrades the buyer pool here actually pays for.
- Pricing range with comp-by-comp logic
- Pre-list improvements that pay back, and the ones that don't
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