salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 97% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.9 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 34.6 minutes each way. Most homes (87.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 83.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $151,400 a year. That is $73 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Illinois. It is number 334 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Wilmette?
Share of households by yearly income. 63.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Wilmette
| Size | Wilmette | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,244 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,284 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,319 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,444 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,733 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Wilmette overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Wilmette, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Wilmette
Life in Wilmette
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wilmette?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,839 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $810,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $81,060 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Wilmette, IL?
Renting in Wilmette costs a median of about $3,785 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Wilmette?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $151,400 a year, or $73 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Wilmette cheap or expensive?
Wilmette is rated OK: rent takes 22.1% of the typical household income of $205,629. It ranks 334th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Wilmette?
The median homeowner in Wilmette pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.23% of the median home value.
Is Wilmette more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Wilmette?
The median home value in Wilmette is $810,600, about 3.9 times the typical yearly household income.
27,503 people live in Wilmette. Numbers are typical (middle) values.