What do 1.5 million Illinoisans over 65 know that the rest of America does not? They know that the Land of Lincoln has some of the best places to call home if you want to retire.
That’s right.
There is more to Illinois than da’ Bears. There are super safe, affordable places for people looking to spend their retirement in the Midwest. We did the research and created a list of the top ten best places in Illinois to retire for 2024.
How’d we determine the best places to retire in Illinois? To identify Illinois’s top ten, we consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 210 cities. We looked at important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent, and distance to the closest national airport for every place with over 10,000 residents.
We discovered that people in this demographic are moving to bigger cities for better access to public transportation, healthcare options, and programs designed especially for them. We found most of the state’s best places to retire center around Chicago.
And don’t forget to give places like Waterloo and Columbia a second look.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Illinois For 2024
What’s the best place to retire in Illinois for 2024? According to the latest data, Palos Hills is the best place to retire in the Prairie State for 2024.
Where are the best places to retire in Illinois? Keep reading.
Why did Palos Hills take the top spot? And where are Chicago and Aurora?
For more Illinois state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Illinois
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Illinois For 2024
/10
Population: 18,278
Median Income: $79,306
Median Home Price: $245,614
Median Rent: $1,248
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Palos Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 39,368
Median Income: $137,964
Median Home Price: $491,808
Median Rent: $1,487
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Park Ridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,687
Median Income: $59,399
Median Home Price: $241,874
Median Rent: $1,065
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Lyons: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 28,304
Median Income: $128,132
Median Home Price: $483,880
Median Rent: $1,223
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Glen Ellyn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,036
Median Income: $106,603
Median Home Price: $297,638
Median Rent: $1,047
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Columbia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,215
Median Income: $75,779
Median Home Price: $231,849
Median Rent: $796
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Highland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,169
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $1,010,524
Median Rent: $1,875
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Hinsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,903
Median Income: $86,441
Median Home Price: $304,707
Median Rent: $1,656
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Wood Dale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,573
Median Income: $52,208
Median Home Price: $150,051
Median Rent: $783
Distance to Closest Airport: 59 miles
More on Dixon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,380
Median Income: $52,749
Median Home Price: $88,942
Median Rent: $757
Distance to Closest Airport: 65 miles
More on Canton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Prairie State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Illinois to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Prairie State — 1364 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 210 places from across the state.
For these 210, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 210, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Palos Hills, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Illinois.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Illinois Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Illinois goes to Palos Hills.
The best places to retire in Illinois are Palos Hills, Park Ridge, Lyons, Glen Ellyn, Columbia, Highland, Hinsdale, Wood Dale, Dixon, and Canton.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Montgomery
- Dekalb
- Bradley
For more Illinois reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Illinois
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palos Hills | 18,278 | $79,306 | $245,614 | $1,248 |
| 2 | Park Ridge | 39,368 | $137,964 | $491,808 | $1,487 |
| 3 | Lyons | 10,687 | $59,399 | $241,874 | $1,065 |
| 4 | Glen Ellyn | 28,304 | $128,132 | $483,880 | $1,223 |
| 5 | Columbia | 11,036 | $106,603 | $297,638 | $1,047 |
| 6 | Highland | 10,215 | $75,779 | $231,849 | $796 |
| 7 | Hinsdale | 17,169 | $250,001 | $1,010,524 | $1,875 |
| 8 | Wood Dale | 13,903 | $86,441 | $304,707 | $1,656 |
| 9 | Dixon | 15,573 | $52,208 | $150,051 | $783 |
| 10 | Canton | 13,380 | $52,749 | $88,942 | $757 |