The North Shore real estate market in 2025 was similar to the strong seller’s market we experienced in 2023 and 2024. Inventory was low all year, market times were at record lows, and multiple offers were common, especially in the spring market. The number of detached single-family home sales went up by 2%, but was still well below a typical year. The primary reason for the low number of sales was the lack of inventory. There were buyers, but not enough homes for them to purchase. The median price for a detached single-family home on the North Shore went up by 8%. Overall, it was another strong market for sellers in 2025. Here are the statistics:
| Number of Homes Sales | Average Market Time | |||||||
| 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||
| Wilmette | 269 | 309 | 33 | 29 | ||||
| Evanston | 310 | 323 | 43 | 40 | ||||
| Winnetka | 177 | 176 | 41 | 60 | ||||
| Glenview | 403 | 410 | 31 | 35 | ||||
| North Shore | 3403 | 3474 | 42 | 40 | ||||
| Average Home Price (in thousands) | Median Home Price (in thousands) | |||||||
| 2024 | 2025 | % Change | 2024 | 2025 | % Change | |||
| Wilmette | 1273 | 1442 | 13% | 1150 | 1276 | 11% | ||
| Evanston | 823 | 926 | 13% | 721 | 823 | 14% | ||
| Winnetka | 2049 | 2714 | 32% | 1750 | 2024 | 16% | ||
| Glenview | 993 | 1015 | 2% | 865 | 875 | 1% | ||
| North Shore | 1019 | 1140 | 12% | 795 | 860 | 8% | ||
The above statistics are for detached single family homes and were compiled from data collected by the Multiple Listing Service (Midwest Real Estate Data LLC), and may not include all home sales.
Inventory: As was the case in 2024, inventory was at record low levels throughout 2025 and we start 2026 with an even lower inventory of single-family homes. The North Shore has 463 detached single-family homes on the public and private markets combined that are not under contact. Last year at this time there were 481 such homes on the market. In the past there were commonly 1500 to 2000 homes on the market at the start of the year. Wilmette has 21 detached single-family homes on the public and private markets that are not under contract. Last year at this time there were 29 such homes in Wilmette, and in a typical year Wilmette generally starts out with about 100 homes on the market. Moreover, Wilmette’s inventory continues to be very low.
Evanston has 36 detached single-family homes on the public and private markets that are not under contract. Last year at this time there were 27 such homes. In Glenview there are 50 such homes now, and there were 53 last year at this time, and in Winnetka there are currently 24 such homes and last year there were 25. Moreover, the record low inventory that we saw in 2025 has continued into 2026.
Prices: In 2025 the North Shore experienced another year of large price increases. It varied by suburb with Wilmette and Evanston seeing large gains, Winnetka saw massive gains, and Glenview held steady. In 2024, Winnetka saw the smallest gains among the suburbs I cover so it made up for that this year with a 32% gain in its average price. That massive gain was in part due to two very high-priced sales which are now the two highest priced home sales ever in the Chicagoland area. I will be curious to see if in 2026 Winnetka is able to maintain its average sale price of $2,714,000. My guess is it will go down since it was propped up this year by these two unique sales.
Interest Rates: Just as they did in 2024, in 2025 interest rates bounced up and down between 6% and 7% for a fixed rate conforming loan. They are currently at the low point of the past year and hovering around 6% for a conforming 30-year fixed rate loan.
2023 North Shore Sales Facts: The highest sale price in the North Shore in 2025 was a home built in 2017 at 609 Sheridan Road, Winnetka. This lakefront home is on 2 acres of land and has a boat house, cabana, green house, pool, golf simulator and gym. It sold for $34,500,000. The second highest sale was another lakefront home at 419 Sheridan, Winnetka that was built in 1929 and is known as the Windsor house. It was designed by architects Mayo and Mayo and features on its 2.3 acres an amazing botanical garden, a pool, boathouse, and 223 feet of private beachfront. It sold for $31,250,000. When it closed in August it was the highest sale ever in Chicagoland but was passed in November when 609 Sheridan closed.
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