The North Shore is the string of suburbs that runs north of Chicago along Lake Michigan. The lakefront towns are Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Nearby inland suburbs such as Glenview, Northbrook, Northfield and Deerfield are often counted as part of the North Shore too.
Most North Shore towns sit in Cook and Lake counties.
Getting around the North Shore
Metra's Union Pacific North line runs through the lakefront towns, and the Milwaukee District North line serves Glenview, Northbrook, Deerfield and Lake Forest, so many North Shore towns offer a train commute into the city.
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Updated October 2026.
