Wilmette, IL vs Winnetka, IL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | WilmetteWilmette, IL | WinnetkaWinnetka, IL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Great | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Very Safe | Same |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
27,550 people live in Wilmette, IL, compared with 12,508 in Winnetka, IL, according to 2023 Census figures. Wilmette’s population is 2.2 times larger, and its population density of 5,100 per square mile is 55% higher than Winnetka’s 3,282 per square mile, placing Wilmette in the 92nd percentile for density and Winnetka in the 81st. The median home value in Wilmette is $802,200 (93rd percentile), while Winnetka’s is $1,206,300 (97th percentile), a 50% difference. However, median rent runs the other way: $1,968 in Wilmette (91st percentile) versus $1,750 in Winnetka (82nd percentile), making Wilmette 12% higher for renters. Median household income is $192,300 in Wilmette and $250,001 in Winnetka, with Winnetka 30% higher and in the 99th percentile.
Property crime per 100,000 people is 865 in Wilmette and 458 in Winnetka, meaning Wilmette’s rate is 89% higher, though both are low relative to national averages (26th and 9th percentiles). Violent crime is also higher in Wilmette at 33 per 100,000 versus 8 in Winnetka, a 4.1 times difference, yet both earn an A+ crime and safety grade. Average household size is 2.7 in Wilmette and 2.9 in Winnetka, with Winnetka 10% larger and in the 89th percentile. Median age is 45.7 in Wilmette (87th percentile) and 42.4 in Winnetka (78th percentile), a gap of 3.3 years. Unemployment and job growth are identical at 5.3% and +0.2%, respectively, and both places share an A grade for economic opportunity.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 21592nd pctl | 26195th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Wilmette, IL 215; Winnetka, IL 261; Winnetka is 21% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $802,20093rd pctl | $1,206,30097th pctl | Median home value: Wilmette, IL $802,200; Winnetka, IL $1,206,300; Winnetka is 50% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,96891st pctl | $1,75082nd pctl | Median rent: Wilmette, IL $1,968; Winnetka, IL $1,750; Wilmette is 12% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $192,30097th pctl | $250,00199th pctl | Median household income: Wilmette, IL $192,300; Winnetka, IL $250,001; Winnetka is 30% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $155,85395th pctl | $234,36398th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Wilmette, IL $155,853; Winnetka, IL $234,363; Winnetka is 50% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $229,10495th pctl | $344,51398th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Wilmette, IL $229,104; Winnetka, IL $344,513; Winnetka is 50% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Winnetka needs about
$91,000
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 215 vs 261). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.3%93rd pctl | 5.3%93rd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.2%26th pctl | +0.2%26th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $109,84097th pctl | $155,36299th pctl | Per-capita income: Wilmette, IL $109,840; Winnetka, IL $155,362; Winnetka is 41% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 3.4%6th pctl | 1.9%2nd pctl | Poverty rate: Wilmette, IL 3.4%; Winnetka, IL 1.9%; Wilmette is 1.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 35 min97th pctl | 33.7 min96th pctl | Average commute: Wilmette, IL 35 min; Winnetka, IL 33.7 min; Wilmette is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 32.0%97th pctl | 27.5%94th pctl | Work from home: Wilmette, IL 32.0%; Winnetka, IL 27.5%; Wilmette is 4.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 336th pctl | 83rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Wilmette, IL 33; Winnetka, IL 8; Wilmette is 4.1 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 86526th pctl | 4589th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Wilmette, IL 865; Winnetka, IL 458; Wilmette is 89% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Very Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Winnetka, IL.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Illinois, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Illinois →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 15 mi19th pctl | 17 mi22nd pctl | Nearest large city: Wilmette, IL 15 mi; Winnetka, IL 17 mi; Winnetka is 15% higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Wilmette, IL C+; Winnetka, IL C-; Wilmette is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 275 mi39th pctl | 275 mi39th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 687 mi82nd pctl | 688 mi82nd pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Wilmette, IL | Winnetka, IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,55055th pctl | 12,50835th pctl | Population: Wilmette, IL 27,550; Winnetka, IL 12,508; Wilmette is 2.2 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 5,10092nd pctl | 3,28281st pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Wilmette, IL 5,100; Winnetka, IL 3,282; Wilmette is 55% higher. |
| Median age | 45.787th pctl | 42.478th pctl | Median age: Wilmette, IL 45.7; Winnetka, IL 42.4; Wilmette is 3.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 84.6%99th pctl | 87.3%100th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Wilmette, IL 84.6%; Winnetka, IL 87.3%; Winnetka is 2.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.774th pctl | 2.989th pctl | Average household size: Wilmette, IL 2.7; Winnetka, IL 2.9; Winnetka is 10% larger. |
More about Wilmette's residents · Winnetka's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Wilmette and Winnetka
- Median rent: $1,968 in Wilmette, $1,750 in Winnetka
- Median home value: $802,200 in Wilmette, $1,206,300 in Winnetka
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 215 in Wilmette, 261 in Winnetka
- Median household income: $192,300 in Wilmette, $250,001 in Winnetka
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $229,104 in Wilmette, $344,513 in Winnetka
- Unemployment: 5.3% in Wilmette, 5.3% in Winnetka
- Average commute: 35 min in Wilmette, 33.7 min in Winnetka
- Violent crime per 100k: 33 in Wilmette, 8 in Winnetka
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More places like Wilmette and Winnetka
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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