Kenilworth - Living in a "hamlet" most certainly sounds like a quaint existence - and it seems likely that the residents of the "hamlet" of Kenilworth experience that quaintness in their everyday lives.  Located just 17 miles north of the city with a population of about 2,500 residents, Kenilworth's $1M+ average home price offers luxury living with a healthy dose of Mayberry.  A single K-8 school serves as the anchor in the community and award-winning New Trier High School takes educational pursuits to the next level. Accordingly, Kenilworth residents receive the best of both worlds: close bonds with each other and easy integration into the greater North Shore. With plenty of beachside property, stately homes on tree-lined streets and even a yearly graduation parade through the center of town, Kenilworth provides that small town feeling in the shadows of the city of Chicago.

Kenilworth's history undoubtedly contributes to its unique personality.  As the newest of the "North Shore" communities, Kenilworth was developed as a planned community. Joseph Sears purchased the initial 223 acre plot of land in 1889 at a cost of $150,300 and then went to work designing the ultimate community in which to live.   Streets were platted to maximize the availability of sunlight in each home, utilities were placed underground, no alleys or fences were permitted, construction standards were high, and there were large lots and paved streets. Today's sun-drenched homes dotting the shores of Lake Michigan stand as a living testament to Sears's vision. And while the average home price remains north of $1M, Kenilworth offers many more affordable options as well.