High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately 16 miles (26 km) north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America`s 25 top-earning towns by CNN Money in 2011. The area is one of the most exclusive and wealthy suburbs in the nation. According to Business Week, it is among the top 15 richest zip codes in America.