Are you sick of being a city slicker?
Do you long for life in suburban Illinois? Where you can drive an overly-large vehicle to the store for groceries and schlep the kids around to practices and appointments without worrying about a parking space.
We do, too.
If you wanted to move out to the suburbs of Springfield, where would you go? And how would you decide on the ranking factors to help you pick which Illinois suburb was best?
No worries. We got it all figured out here using Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the 10 best suburbs in the Prairie State
Western Springs is the place to be when it comes to being a soccer mom in suburban Illinois.
So if you’re thinking of packing up your mini van and making a move to a quiet place to live in Illinois, we’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for a detailed methodology. Or, check out the best places to live in Illinois and the best places to raise a family in Illinois.
Best Suburbs In Illinois For 2024
/10
Population: 13,557
Median Income: $198,836
Average Home Price: $700,654
More on Western Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Western Springs is located 11 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 17,169
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,010,524
More on Hinsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Hinsdale is located 12 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 19,173
Median Income: $185,762
Average Home Price: $520,189
More on Deerfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Deerfield is located 24 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 34,950
Median Income: $150,236
Average Home Price: $573,899
More on Northbrook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Northbrook is located 21 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 7,907
Median Income: $155,395
Average Home Price: $626,704
More on Lincolnshire: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Lincolnshire is located 27 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 7,722
Median Income: $207,623
Average Home Price: $700,604
More on Inverness: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Inverness is located 28 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 39,368
Median Income: $137,964
Average Home Price: $491,808
More on Park Ridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Park Ridge is located 14 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 53,673
Median Income: $113,523
Average Home Price: $431,270
More on Wheaton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Wheaton is located 21 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 16,128
Median Income: $141,235
Average Home Price: $522,753
More on La Grange: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
La Grange is located 10 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 9,225
Median Income: $149,464
Average Home Price: $476,379
More on Riverside: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Riverside is located 6 miles west of Chicago.
Methodology:How we crunched the suburb numbers for the Prairie State
We have to use Saturday Night Science and look at several metrics to give you the best suburbs in Illinois. We want to measure the type of place around major cities that people arguing at a bar would say makes it the “best suburb.”
First, we had to define a suburb. Using U.S. Census data produced for the state of Illinois, we looked at every town with at least 5,000 residents, and within 30 miles of a city that’s over 200,000 people.
In other words, suburbs.
We paid particular attention to the following criteria:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is Better)
- Unemployment Rates
- Commute Time
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We ranked each suburb in Illinois across these criteria from one to 159, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the town posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Suburb To Live In Illinois.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and ideal places to live in Illinois.
Read on to see why Western Springs is the ‘burb with the most, while Harvey is probably not the best place to live in Illinois.
Summary: There You Have It – The Best Suburbs In Illinois
If you’re measuring the locations in Illinois where there are lots to do, and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best suburbs in Illinois are Western Springs, Hinsdale, Deerfield, Northbrook, Lincolnshire, Inverness, Park Ridge, Wheaton, La Grange, and Riverside.
Here’s a look at the worst suburbs in Illinois according to the data:
- Harvey
- Markham
- Chicago Heights
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
- Richest Cities In Illinois
- Safest Places In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois
The Best Suburbs In Illinois
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Springs | 13,557 | $198,836 | $700,654 |
| 2 | Hinsdale | 17,169 | $250,001 | $1,010,524 |
| 3 | Deerfield | 19,173 | $185,762 | $520,189 |
| 4 | Northbrook | 34,950 | $150,236 | $573,899 |
| 5 | Lincolnshire | 7,907 | $155,395 | $626,704 |
| 6 | Inverness | 7,722 | $207,623 | $700,604 |
| 7 | Park Ridge | 39,368 | $137,964 | $491,808 |
| 8 | Wheaton | 53,673 | $113,523 | $431,270 |
| 9 | La Grange | 16,128 | $141,235 | $522,753 |
| 10 | Riverside | 9,225 | $149,464 | $476,379 |
| 11 | Winfield | 9,947 | $136,696 | $401,970 |
| 12 | La Grange Park | 13,332 | $113,419 | $412,033 |
| 13 | Northfield | 5,707 | $146,538 | $689,829 |
| 14 | Clarendon Hills | 8,658 | $115,923 | $561,818 |
| 15 | Winnetka | 12,607 | $250,001 | $1,450,397 |
| 16 | Wilmette | 27,801 | $183,750 | $792,941 |
| 17 | Elmhurst | 45,648 | $143,492 | $500,450 |
| 18 | Glencoe | 8,787 | $228,750 | $1,230,212 |
| 19 | Itasca | 9,627 | $113,162 | $380,589 |
| 20 | Buffalo Grove | 42,934 | $127,553 | $378,470 |
| 21 | Highland Park | 30,209 | $159,567 | $633,282 |
| 22 | South Barrington | 5,001 | $226,042 | $957,504 |
| 23 | Lake Forest | 19,436 | $202,153 | $997,291 |
| 24 | Burr Ridge | 11,131 | $174,342 | $724,731 |
| 25 | Naperville | 149,089 | $143,754 | $527,805 |
| 26 | Glen Ellyn | 28,304 | $128,132 | $483,880 |
| 27 | Downers Grove | 49,996 | $115,461 | $424,001 |
| 28 | Mokena | 19,886 | $122,235 | $406,985 |
| 29 | Darien | 21,953 | $110,546 | $391,312 |
| 30 | New Lenox | 27,242 | $129,797 | $397,624 |
| 31 | Palos Heights | 11,965 | $105,366 | $354,730 |
| 32 | Westchester | 16,694 | $101,414 | $316,020 |
| 33 | Arlington Heights | 76,794 | $113,502 | $403,495 |
| 34 | River Forest | 11,568 | $144,784 | $625,449 |
| 35 | Lemont | 17,558 | $128,694 | $491,388 |
| 36 | Frankfort | 20,260 | $157,615 | $439,784 |
| 37 | Columbia | 11,036 | $106,603 | $297,638 |
| 38 | Lombard | 44,055 | $95,509 | $328,254 |
| 39 | Long Grove | 8,279 | $236,172 | $799,502 |
| 40 | Bloomingdale | 22,435 | $96,779 | $375,771 |
| 41 | Willow Springs | 5,862 | $100,775 | $336,794 |
| 42 | Lisle | 23,499 | $106,265 | $368,104 |
| 43 | Lincolnwood | 13,268 | $99,390 | $473,704 |
| 44 | Glenview | 47,896 | $134,910 | $556,329 |
| 45 | Troy | 10,920 | $93,850 | $284,832 |
| 46 | Vernon Hills | 26,750 | $117,253 | $378,263 |
| 47 | Oak Brook | 8,065 | $158,663 | $823,438 |
| 48 | Westmont | 24,271 | $82,519 | $347,110 |
| 49 | Roselle | 22,846 | $104,167 | $331,035 |
| 50 | Orland Park | 58,345 | $97,365 | $367,054 |
| 51 | Mount Prospect | 56,191 | $100,526 | $372,693 |
| 52 | O’fallon | 32,104 | $102,560 | $284,724 |
| 53 | Carol Stream | 39,656 | $103,525 | $330,804 |
| 54 | Homer Glen | 24,507 | $130,235 | $460,898 |
| 55 | Orland Hills | 6,842 | $92,830 | $292,934 |
| 56 | Shiloh | 13,892 | $94,539 | $275,510 |
| 57 | Willowbrook | 9,177 | $95,649 | $294,149 |
| 58 | Maryville | 8,219 | $96,373 | $298,020 |
| 59 | Woodridge | 34,027 | $95,756 | $356,860 |
| 60 | Warrenville | 13,945 | $95,919 | $307,146 |
| 61 | Lockport | 26,119 | $106,923 | $315,083 |
| 62 | Morton Grove | 24,910 | $102,940 | $375,363 |
| 63 | Villa Park | 22,753 | $90,287 | $302,069 |
| 64 | Hoffman Estates | 51,744 | $107,428 | $343,446 |
| 65 | Harwood Heights | 8,942 | $77,617 | $336,787 |
| 66 | Schaumburg | 77,571 | $92,818 | $304,016 |
| 67 | Glen Carbon | 13,654 | $92,002 | $291,991 |
| 68 | Oak Park | 53,834 | $103,264 | $391,539 |
| 69 | Oak Forest | 27,199 | $89,758 | $263,395 |
| 70 | Flossmoor | 9,405 | $140,703 | $318,241 |
| 71 | Mascoutah | 8,762 | $93,403 | $229,083 |
| 72 | Waterloo | 11,012 | $88,019 | $276,117 |
| 73 | Glendale Heights | 33,088 | $83,588 | $273,482 |
| 74 | Wood Dale | 13,903 | $86,441 | $304,707 |
| 75 | Edwardsville | 26,622 | $87,094 | $293,595 |
| 76 | Tinley Park | 55,571 | $99,628 | $297,581 |
| 77 | Evanston | 77,181 | $93,188 | $410,543 |
| 78 | Brookfield | 19,349 | $98,867 | $307,049 |
| 79 | Highwood | 5,227 | $105,282 | $389,661 |
| 80 | Evergreen Park | 19,730 | $92,266 | $255,976 |
| 81 | Swansea | 14,888 | $85,603 | $236,395 |
| 82 | Addison | 35,685 | $82,547 | $325,203 |
| 83 | Palatine | 67,223 | $93,383 | $312,692 |
| 84 | Skokie | 67,076 | $91,892 | $358,422 |
| 85 | Streamwood | 39,556 | $94,951 | $280,844 |
| 86 | Hickory Hills | 14,915 | $81,385 | $290,409 |
| 87 | Norridge | 15,291 | $84,539 | $354,846 |
| 88 | Rolling Meadows | 24,054 | $91,287 | $288,538 |
| 89 | Lyons | 10,687 | $59,399 | $241,874 |
| 90 | Bethalto | 9,281 | $67,569 | $177,611 |
| 91 | Hanover Park | 37,222 | $88,460 | $279,141 |
| 92 | Niles | 30,637 | $75,783 | $348,195 |
| 93 | Monee | 5,120 | $86,849 | $307,912 |
| 94 | Des Plaines | 60,087 | $86,552 | $293,438 |
| 95 | Bensenville | 18,673 | $76,489 | $306,287 |
| 96 | Bolingbrook | 73,755 | $102,057 | $317,734 |
| 97 | Schiller Park | 11,600 | $65,862 | $268,641 |
| 98 | River Grove | 10,532 | $72,466 | $268,385 |
| 99 | Godfrey | 17,791 | $84,920 | $191,951 |
| 100 | Berkeley | 5,283 | $79,691 | $260,880 |