Although historically, North Shore referred to the area along the lakefront between Chicago and Milwaukee, many people now use this term to refer to the suburbs north of Chicago. Today "North Shore" generally includes such inland suburbs as Skokie, Glenview, Deerfield, Northfield and Northbrook.

The North Shore was first settled after the signing of an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans, and most villages in the area were incorporated in the ensuing decades. When Walter S. Gurnee, a two-term mayor of Chicago, helped create a commuter rail service to the North Shore via the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad, the North Shore flourished. After World War II, Chicagoans seeking refuge from the crime and bustle of city life flocked to the many villages along Lake Michigan's western coast, quickly expanding the area and peppering the landscape with lavish homes, tree-lined streets and open green spaces.

Not surprisingly, North Shore communities have a lot in common. As of the 2000 Census, villages such as Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, Wilmette and Highland Park each boasted populations hovering around 30,000, with nearly 40% of households including children under 18 and nearly 70% of residents married. Financial statistics also make the North Shore an ideal investment, as median family incomes for each village were near $100,000 or more and median home values were $300,000 or more.

In addition to prosperity among the North Shore's homeowners, residents of each village enjoy an easy commuting distance to downtown Chicago, with most homes within well under 40 minutes. Plus, each village provides multiple routes to access downtown Chicago, as well as to O'Hare International Airport. Each village also offers a thriving business community, and several boast prominent corporate presences, such as Walgreen's, Baxter Healthcare, Avon, the Solo Cup Company, Kraft Foods and Zenith Electronics.

But the area's beauty is reason enough to purchase Chicago North Shore real estate. Each village of Chicago's North Shore has a park district, which manages large swaths of undeveloped land for public use. Most villages have walking trails and bike paths, swimming pools, skating parks, centers for seniors or youth, tennis courts, golf courses, ball parks, football and soccer fields, and even beaches and outdoor theaters. Rarely is so much land reserved for public recreation, but this the norm in the North Shore.

Another reason North Shore Chicago real estate is in such high demand is the quality of the schools. Many K-12 schools are renowned. Deerfield High School, for example, is one of the top public schools in the state. According to the school's 2005 Illinois School Report Card, the graduation rate was 100% of students for the year of 2004. In 2000, the school underwent a mammoth $75 million renovation and expansion project, including new science and arts wings.

The North Shore is also home to Northwestern University. Founded in 1855, Northwestern's attractive campus stretches along the lakefront for a mile. Its schools of business, law, journalism and medicine rank high nationally, and many actors have studied at its school of speech. These include Charlton Heston, Ann-Margret, Marg Helgenberger, and Kimberly Williams.

But if Chicago's North Shore real estate is your primary concern, the area offers a wide variety of homes from which to choose. Styles range from lakefront estates to Tudors, Cape Cods and Victorian cottages. Additionally, newer townhomes and condominiums are available. To discover what the North Shore holds for you, call Doug Wurtzel at (847) 521-4148 or (847) 772-8454 to schedule an appointment today.