In Wilmette, a typical home is worth $810,600 and typical rent is $1,978 a month. Compared with all of Cook County, the typical home value is 150% higher, typical household income is 128% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 30 points higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $703,000 to $1,007,001.
Typical rent
$3,794a month
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2026 to September 2026: from $3,936 to $3,794.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Wilmette is in Cook County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cook County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
88% of households in Wilmette own their home, against 58% in Cook County.
2
The typical household income in Wilmette is $190,662,128% more than in Cook County as a whole ($83,498).
3
The typical home in Wilmette is worth $810,600,150% more than in Cook County as a whole ($324,500).
4
Nearby, in Skokie, the typical home value is $387,200: 52% less than in Wilmette ($810,600).
5
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Wilmette rose 13.9%; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.
6
The typical rent in Wilmette is $1,978 a month, 38% more than in Cook County as a whole ($1,435).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Wilmette
What homes there are in Wilmette, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Kind of home: Wilmette and its comparisons
Measure
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Detached house
76%
40%
58%
61%
Attached house
5%
6%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
19%
12%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
35%
22%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 76% of homes here, against 40% in Cook County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Year built: Wilmette and its comparisons
Measure
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Before 1960
56%
49%
38%
26%
1960–1979
25%
25%
26%
24%
1980–1999
9%
14%
20%
25%
2000–2009
6%
8%
11%
14%
2010 or later
5%
5%
6%
11%
In Wilmette, half of the homes were built before 1957; in Cook County, before 1961.
In Wilmette, 82% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Cook County (49%).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300K3%
$300K–$500K16%
$500K–$750K23%
$750K–$1M18%
$1M or more37%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Wilmette and its comparisons
Measure
Wilmette
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
3%
$300K–$500K
16%
$500K–$750K
23%
$750K–$1M
18%
$1M or more
37%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99919%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or more29%
Monthly rent with utilities: Wilmette and its comparisons
Measure
Wilmette
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
19%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
29%
Owners with a mortgage
61%
Cook County: 62%
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Wilmette+15%
Cook County+32%
Illinois+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Wilmette+33%
Cook County+28%
Illinois+26%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Wilmette+16%
Cook County+29%
Illinois+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Wilmette and its comparisons
Measure
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Typical home value
+15%
+32%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+33%
+28%
+26%
+33%
Typical household income
+16%
+29%
+27%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Wilmette rose 15%; in Cook County, it rose 32%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Wilmette rose 33%, more than in Cook County (28%).
To compare: typical income in Wilmette rose 16%; the home, +15%; the rent, +33%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Wilmette and its comparisons
Measure
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.3%
2.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.66
2.43
2.46
2.53
Drive alone
41%
55%
66%
69%
Carpool
3%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
14%
12%
6%
3%
Walk or bike
4%
5%
3%
3%
Work from home
36%
19%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
30 to 39 minutes
30 to 39 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
More people live in each home here: 2.66 on average, against 2.43 in Cook County.
In Wilmette, 36% of workers work from home, more than in Cook County (19%).
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Wilmette?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Wilmette, worth $810,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 44% of the typical household income in Wilmette, which is $190,662 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $296,527 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for Cook County ($541,287), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cook County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Wilmette. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $28,371 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$6,919
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$795,918
Total interest
$1,145,139
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $13,689 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $4,449 a month
Tight
$4,449 to $5,720 a month
Hard
more than $5,720 a month
Your payment · 44%
Compared with the typical household income in Wilmette ($190,662 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$5,392
Property tax
$831
Home insurance
$338
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$359
This loan is over the FHA limit
You'd borrow $782,229, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Wilmette is $541,287. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.
You need at least $28,371 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $6,919; principal and interest $5,392.
The city and its county
Wilmette and Cook County
Wilmette is in Cook County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Wilmette
Map of Cook County, Illinois, with Wilmette marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Wilmette
Cook County
Other cities with a page
Wilmette's own numbers
Typical home value
$810,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,978
Typical yearly household income
$190,662
Households that own their home
88%
Effective property tax rate
1.23%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cook County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,011
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cook County.
A typical home in Wilmette is worth $810,600: 150% above the county and 208% above Illinois. With the typical household income in Wilmette ($190,662 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Wilmette4.3 years
Cook3.9 years
Illinois3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cook County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cook County rose 61% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cook County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cook County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.9% +3.9% 2016
2017: +3.2% +3.2% 2017
2018: +2.5% +2.5% 2018
2019: +2.7% +2.7% 2019
2020: +0.9% +0.9% 2020
2021: +7.2% +7.2% 2021
2022: +11.3% +11.3% 2022
2023: +5.7% +5.7% 2023
2024: +6.4% +6.4% 2024
2025: +5.5% +5.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cook County, Illinois and the United States
Period
County
Illinois
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.5%
+5.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+42%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+61%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Wilmette next to Cook County, Illinois and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Wilmette$810,600
Cook$324,500
Illinois$263,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Wilmette$1,978
Cook$1,435
Illinois$1,274
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Wilmette$190,662
Cook$83,498
Illinois$83,390
United States$80,734
See the full table
Wilmette next to Cook County and Illinois
Measure
Wilmette
Cook County
Illinois
U.S.
Typical home value
$810,600 ▲150% above the county
$324,500
$263,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,978 ▲38% above the county
$1,435
$1,274
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$190,662 ▲128% above the county
$83,498
$83,390
$80,734
Households that own their home
88% ▲30 points above the county
58%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$10,001 ▲62% above the county
$6,191
$5,298
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.23% ▼0.68 points below the county
1.91%
2.01%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46% ▼3 points below the county
49%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cook County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wilmette
For a typical $810,600 home in Wilmette, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wilmette's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$6,919a month
Above the FHA limit for Cook County ($541,287)
Down payment
$28,371
Cash to close
$52,689
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $359
Conventional, 5% down$6,770a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$40,530
Cash to close
$64,848
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $385
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$5,562a month
Down payment
$162,120
Cash to close
$186,438
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$6,311a month
Down payment
$121,590
Cash to close
$145,908
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wilmette
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Above the FHA limit for Cook County ($541,287)
$6,919
$28,371
$795,918
7.18%
FHA MIP · $359
$52,689
580
Conventional, 5% down Least cash to close
$6,770
$40,530
$770,070
7.18%
PMI · $385
$64,848
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$5,562
$162,120
$648,480
7.18%
None
$186,438
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$6,311
$121,590
$689,010
8.18%
None
$145,908
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is Conventional, 5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Wilmette is $1,978 a month: 38% above the county. In Wilmette, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cook County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,011 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $38.67 an hour working full time.
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 42 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cook County; 19 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wilmette or Cook County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Wilmette the same as in the rest of the state.
IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois.Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Wilmette or Cook County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Wilmette and all of Cook County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Wilmette?
The typical home value in Wilmette is $810,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cook County it is $324,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Wilmette?
Typical rent in Wilmette is $1,978 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cook County is $2,011.
What is the FHA loan limit in Wilmette?
Wilmette uses the FHA limit for all of Cook County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Wilmette?
The typical homeowner in Wilmette pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.23% of the home’s value; in Cook County, the rate is 1.91%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wilmette?
There are 42 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cook County. 19 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
