I grew up in Wilmette and went to New Trier, and think it was an excellent foundation, but the commute will kill you. The commute south of North Avenue such as Hinsdale (where $900k might not be enough) or Clarendon Hills (excellent suburb, many parts have Hinsdale Central high school) will also kill you if you want to keep it to 30 minutes. And I'd say that the same would apply to anything in traditional Barrington along IL 59, as I-90 is a general mess most mornings.

My gut instinct would be to look at the Glenbrook South, Deerfield, and maybe Maine West and Glenbrook North high school districts. My cousin and his wife (both physicians) had a similar commuting situation as you are describing and picked Deerfield.

But if education is your top priority, focus on the high school districts first, then the K-8 districts within the high school district, then the neighborhoods.