The North Shore consists of many affluent suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois, bordering the shores of Lake Michigan. These communities fall within suburban Cook County and Lake County. The North Shore's membership is often a topic of debate, and it includes some Chicago suburbs which do not border Lake Michigan. However, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highwood, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Golf, Glenview, Niles, Morton Grove, Skokie, and Evanston, are generally considered to be the main constituents of the North Shore. The North Shore is known for its affluence, high level of education, proximity to Chicago, and top-rated public schools.

Lake County is situated in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Illinois, along the shores of Lake Michigan. As of the 2020 census, it has a population of 714,342, making it the third-most populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Waukegan, the tenth-largest city in Illinois. The county is primarily suburban, with some urban areas and some rural areas. Due to its location, immediately north of Cook County, Lake County is one of the collar counties of the Chicago metropolitan area. Its northern boundary is the Wisconsin state line.