Snuggled between the Forest Preserve to the west and the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan to the east lies the village of Winnetka. In 2020, 24/7 Wall St. named Winnetka one of the best places to live, and it did not take long to see why. This charming village has tree-lined roads, generous green spaces, and unspoiled beaches with gorgeous water views.
Downtown Winnetka is vibrant, with upscale boutiques and restaurants. The village continues to improve the walkability of the downtown core while preserving the historic structures in town. Winnetka has a wonderful mix of architectural styles. English Tudor, Art Deco, Dutch Colonial, Georgian and Contemporary are just a few types found throughout the area. There are luxurious mansions and grand country estates. A lucky few homes are perched along the coastline with picturesque lakefront views.
The movie set-quality neighborhoods have been featured in several Hollywood productions, most notably Home Alone and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. People still drive by the Home Alone house to take selfies. While Winnetka is undoubtedly beautiful, it is much more than just an excellent backdrop for films. It is a peaceful, enchanting place the fortunate call home.
Winnetka has a quaint small-town feel and a terrific sense of community. The school system is highly rated and a big draw. There is also a family atmosphere and a focus on activities for kids. Children’s sports are prevalent, with recreation facilities and multiple parks. All of these things help make Winnetka an extremely desirable community in which to live.
The climate in Winnetka is typical of the Midwest. Locals enjoy warm summers and snowy winters. The fall in this North Shore village is particularly captivating because Winnetka has so many mature trees. Locals frequently walk or bicycle around this scenic town, but most also have cars. Residents can access the PACE bus and the Metra if they do not want to drive but still want to commute to Chicago or other towns nearby.
Winnetka has many upscale restaurants and boutiques. The three distinct business areas are Indian Hill, Elm Street, and Hubbard Woods. They are all conveniently located on different sections of Green Bay Road.
Pomeroy is an elegant restaurant in the Elm Street section of town. On lovely days, people dine outside in the front courtyard to people-watch. The bistro serves delicious French fare and has become a local favorite. If you are in the mood to shop after your meal, Valentina is down the street. It has select clothing items and unique jewelry, and accessories.
Mino’s is further north in the Hubbard Woods area. It serves Italian cuisine in a more casual, relaxed atmosphere. People think the food is delicious, and they like the cocktails too. Material Possessions is another popular shop in the area. It is a block down the street from Mino’s and has an excellent selection of home decor and one-of-a-kind items.
Winnetka has events throughout the year which help to bring the community together. The Winnetka Music Festival is a two-day festival featuring various music artists. Another event, Art in the Village, is sponsored by the North Shore Art League. It showcases artists from around the country and attracts visitors from all over. The Antiques + Modernism Show brings dealers of fine antiques and modernist pieces to town for a multi-day event. Visitors shop or listen to lectures from various speakers.
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the Skokie Lagoons. They can go fishing, rent a kayak or enjoy the hiking and biking trails. Many people bike the N Branch Trail System-Brown Paved Trl. A portion of the trail is a four-mile loop around the lagoons. The entire trail is 20 miles long and runs from Chicago to Glencoe.
Winnetka is in Winnetka School District 36. All of the schools in the area are highly rated. A few of them are listed below.
12,658 people live in Winnetka, where the median age is 42.6 and the average individual income is $143,109. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Winnetka has 4,353 households, with an average household size of 2.91. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Winnetka do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 12,658 people call Winnetka home. The population density is 3,321.01 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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