Kenilworth is a small, quiet lakeside neighborhood located 18 miles north of downtown Chicago and situated on what used to be Illinois farmland. Now home to serene tree-lined streets and an eclectic collection of large homes with manicured lawns, Kenilworth strives to bring the community the atmosphere of a village. “Overall, Kenilworth is a really sweet, tight-knit community,” says Realtor Aly Tesar with Compass Real Estate, a life-long resident. The neighborhood is the newest of the suburban Chicago communities in the North Shore area, with most homes built between 1900 and the 1960s. While it is close to Northwestern University and downtown Chicago, Kenilworth’s proximity to the lakeshore and its neatly planned suburban streets sit at a restful distance from the energetic hurry of the city.
Kenilworth features lots of yard space and tree lined streets
Homes in Kenilworth include Georgian revival architecture
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The many facets of Kenilworth
Kenilworth’s residential streets are lined with an array of home styles, featuring everything from elegant Victorian and Tudor Revivals to Cape Cods and American Foursquare-style homes. Prices in this neighborhood tend to be higher than those in surrounding areas, ranging from $750,000 for modern three-bedroom cottages to over $4 million for lakeside Tudor-inspired mansions with six bedrooms. Most houses in Kenilworth sit on large lots, with yard space for kids and dogs to play and multi-car garages. Locals who stroll down the sun-dappled Essex Road will come upon the Hiram Baldwin House. Now a private residence, this prairie-style home was designed in 1905 by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Intricate Victorian style homes can be found around Kenilworth
Many homes are right on the lakefront
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Unrivaled scholarship in Kenilworth
Kenilworth students have access to The Joseph Sears School, an A-plus graded institution which Niche also rates as the No. 2 best public elementary school in all of Illinois. The Sears School also serves as the area’s middle school, with students attending from kindergarten through eighth grade. They then move to New Trier Township High School’s Northfield campus for ninth grade, which scores an A-minus, before graduating to New Trier’s main campus, which is rated A-plus and is Niche’s No. 8 best public high school in the state.
Entrance to The Joseph Sears School
New Trier offers an abundance of extracurricular activities
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Golfing at Indian Hill, swimming in Lake Michigan
Residents don’t need to travel far from home to enjoy the outdoors. Members of the Indian Hill Club can enjoy its beautifully maintained 18-hole golf course or the club’s tennis and pickleball courts. The neighborhood rubs shoulders with Lake Michigan at Kenilworth Beach, where locals spend summers lounging in the sand or swimming in the sparkling waves. The neighborhood is also home to Townley Field, a pocket park where younger or more athletically inclined residents can enjoy the playground and the sports fields.
The Indian Hill Club host an active Pickle Ball league.
The quaint Kenilworth Beach is seasonally open to residents.
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Memorial Day and Summerfest
“The community really comes together for local events and parades on holidays and for special occasions,” Tesar says. In the summer, Kenilworth and nearby Wilmette host the Summerfest and Sidewalk Sale, where residents can stroll the streets and grab cold beers and hot food from the vendors and trucks that set up shop. Kenilworth Assembly Hall frequently hosts live music from local artists, and the Kenilworth Memorial Day Parade has been an annual occurrence for 100 years.
Cravings in Kenilworth
Residents can shop for groceries at the Jewel-Osco or Whole Foods along Green Bay Road, with Sam’s Club, The Home Depot and Aldi just 5 miles from the neighborhood. There are also numerous local restaurants on or around Green Bay Road. Stop into Capt’n Nemo’s, a quintessential Chicago sandwich shop with homemade soups and turkey chili on the menu. Locals head to Aboyer for date night, an American-French fusion spot, before finishing up at Homer’s Ice Cream to sample one of their 60 homemade flavors.
Homer's has been serving ice cream since 1935
Stop by Capt'n Nemo's and grab a bite with the locals
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Metra trains to Chicago and beyond
Kenilworth is directly connected to downtown Chicago by the purple line L train, with the terminal Linden station just 3 miles from the community. The UP-N train stops at Kenilworth station and heads north all the way to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in just over an hour.
Commuting in Kenilworth is convenient with hourly Metra trains running North and Southbound.
Kenilworth residents can easily commute into the city at their local Metra stop.
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The woven communities of Wilmette and Kenilworth
Kenilworth is intimately connected with its larger neighbor Wilmette, so much so that the two villages are handled by the same Chamber of Commerce. The chamber releases a community guide annually, covering businesses, schools and events for both communities. This small pair of towns takes care of its own, and promises a quiet lakeside escape among a host of familiar faces that feels like home to its residents.
Kenilworth lies along Lake Michigan
The Bahai temple in Wilmette is a major religious landmark on Chicagos North Shore.
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Move right into this picturesque center-entry 4-bedroom white colonial home in sought after Kenilworth location. This home boasts an open floor plan with a fabulous white kitchen, high end stainless steel appliances (Sub-zero and Wolf), quartz countertops and spacious eat-in area. Cooking in this sun-filled kitchen with custom cabinetry and a large island is a dream and opens to a wonderful
Kathryn Mangel@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Historical Character meets Elegant Modern Living! Experience the best of Kenilworth in this perfectly located historic home one block to the beach, schools, town, and trains. Originally built in 1896 by renowned architect Franklin Pierce Burnham, it was completely gutted and reborn in 2022 as a stunning showcase of customized modern design while maintaining its classic charm. As you enter
John Mawicke@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Charming Tudor home in ideal location! Picturesque, storybook home with a steep gabled roof. Spacious living room with prominent fireplace, a formal dining room, and a grand cathedral ceiling family room are just a few of the special features. Great for entertaining. Beautifully refinished hardwood floors throughout. Amazing location situated in the prestigious Sears School and New Trier School
Joseph Nash@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Move right into this picturesque center-entry 4-bedroom white colonial home in sought after Kenilworth location. This home boasts an open floor plan with a fabulous white kitchen, high end stainless steel appliances (Sub-zero and Wolf), quartz countertops and spacious eat-in area. Cooking in this sun-filled kitchen with custom cabinetry and a large island is a dream and opens to a wonderful
Kathryn Mangel@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Historical Character meets Elegant Modern Living! Experience the best of Kenilworth in this perfectly located historic home one block to the beach, schools, town, and trains. Originally built in 1896 by renowned architect Franklin Pierce Burnham, it was completely gutted and reborn in 2022 as a stunning showcase of customized modern design while maintaining its classic charm. As you enter
John Mawicke@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Charming Tudor home in ideal location! Picturesque, storybook home with a steep gabled roof. Spacious living room with prominent fireplace, a formal dining room, and a grand cathedral ceiling family room are just a few of the special features. Great for entertaining. Beautifully refinished hardwood floors throughout. Amazing location situated in the prestigious Sears School and New Trier School
Joseph Nash@properties Christie's International Real Estate
Welcome to this fabulous 4-bed (+ office), 4.1-bath home with a 2-car garage in a prime east Wilmette location (CAGE)! Loads of space inside & out beginning with the spacious formal Living & Dining rooms, a Sunroom, the newly renovated Kitchen, separate Mudroom & Butler's pantry, and a large Family room overlooking the stunning back yard! The 2nd floor hosts a Primary suite which includes a large
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