Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located 14 miles (23 km) north of Chicago's downtown district (or 3 mi/5 km from Chicago's northern border) and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district. In 2007, Wilmette was ranked as the seventh best place to raise children in the U.S. , according to Business Week.