While big cities like Aurora offer culture, cuisine, and charisma, they also deliver terrible traffic, towering expenses, and a taxing quality of life.
With that in mind, we wanted to uncover the best suburbs around Aurora. These burbs have all of the benefits of being near Aurora without actually having to be in the city.
Of course, not all suburbs of Aurora are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones. Using Saturday Night Science, we delve into the factors that matter most, from commutes and housing costs to community vibes, to help you uncover the perfect suburban spots in the Greater Aurora area.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around Aurora for 2024:
What’s the best suburb of Aurora? Western Springs ranks as the best suburb of Aurora for 2024 based on the most recent Census and FBI data. If you happen to be a resident of Western Springs, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on the top our list.
We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 Aurora ‘burbs better than the rest–but first, a bit about our methodology.
Feel free to check out some more reading about Illinois:
The 10 Best Aurora Suburbs To Live For 2024
/10
Population: 13,557
Median Income: $198,836
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
Poverty Rate: 2.6%
More on Western Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Western Springs is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Aurora area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Western Springs.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $198,836 a year, which is the 4th highest in the Aurora region. And only 2.54% are out of work. Homes average more than $700,654 each.
Their is no crime in that town and the neighborhood is nice. Their are a lot of things to do in that town and have a nice ice cream shop called Oberweis Dairy. Their are also Metra trains their too.
Spring Rock Park is a nice park with baseball fields and a hockey rink. Oberweis Dairy has good ice cream.
/10
Population: 17,169
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
Poverty Rate: 1.4%
More on Hinsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Hinsdale is the second best ‘burb we looked at near Aurora for 2024.
It ranks 1st for incomes in the area and only 2.64% of residents lack insurance, good for 32nd best.
/10
Population: 9,225
Median Income: $149,464
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Poverty Rate: 3.2%
More on Riverside: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Here in Riverside, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the Aurora metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Riverside.
/10
Population: 16,128
Median Income: $141,235
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
Poverty Rate: 4.4%
More on La Grange: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
La Grange ranks as the 4th best suburb of Aurora for 2024.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in La Grange and the schools are some of the best around.
/10
Population: 13,332
Median Income: $113,419
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
Poverty Rate: 3.8%
More on La Grange Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Coming in as the fifth best is La Grange Park.
La Grange Park gets kudos for having the 28th most expensive homes in the Aurora area, where houses sell for an average of $412,033. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
/10
South Barrington is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 1.8%.
According to online reports, South Barrington is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the Aurora area, meaning you need to get in soon.
/10
Population: 21,390
Median Income: $132,799
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
Poverty Rate: 2.6%
More on Geneva: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to Geneva.
Geneva schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 8.4 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
/10
Population: 9,947
Median Income: $136,696
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
Poverty Rate: 1.5%
More on Winfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Winfield is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 1.37% of people lack insurance, good for 7th in the area.
/10
Population: 27,242
Median Income: $129,797
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
Poverty Rate: 2.0%
More on New Lenox: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Is ‘Everything Better In New Lenox?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
/10
Population: 3,694
Median Income: $172,586
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
Poverty Rate: 1.5%
More on Deer Park: Data | Real Estate
And rounding out the top ten for 2024 is Deer Park.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around Aurora for 2024
Figuring out the best suburbs around Aurora was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2018-2022 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of Aurora.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 2,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 142 suburbs to evaluate around Aurora.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 142 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near Aurora.” We’re lookin’ at you, Western Springs.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best Aurora suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best Aurora ‘Burbs of 2024
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of Aurora are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like Aurora but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more Illinois reading, check out:
Table: Best Aurora Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Springs, IL | 13,557 | $198,836 | $700,654 |
| 2 | Hinsdale, IL | 17,169 | $250,001 | $1,010,524 |
| 3 | Riverside, IL | 9,225 | $149,464 | $476,379 |
| 4 | La Grange, IL | 16,128 | $141,235 | $522,753 |
| 5 | La Grange Park, IL | 13,332 | $113,419 | $412,033 |
| 6 | South Barrington, IL | 5,001 | $226,042 | $957,504 |
| 7 | Geneva, IL | 21,390 | $132,799 | $465,349 |
| 8 | Winfield, IL | 9,947 | $136,696 | $401,970 |
| 9 | New Lenox, IL | 27,242 | $129,797 | $397,624 |
| 10 | Deer Park, IL | 3,694 | $172,586 | $649,370 |
| 11 | Park Ridge, IL | 39,368 | $137,964 | $491,808 |
| 12 | River Forest, IL | 11,568 | $144,784 | $625,449 |
| 13 | Naperville, IL | 149,089 | $143,754 | $527,805 |
| 14 | Inverness, IL | 7,722 | $207,623 | $700,604 |
| 15 | Wayne, IL | 2,225 | $165,313 | $651,459 |
| 16 | Wheaton, IL | 53,673 | $113,523 | $431,270 |
| 17 | Lemont, IL | 17,558 | $128,694 | $491,388 |
| 18 | Mokena, IL | 19,886 | $122,235 | $406,985 |
| 19 | Burr Ridge, IL | 11,131 | $174,342 | $724,731 |
| 20 | Elmhurst, IL | 45,648 | $143,492 | $500,450 |
| 21 | Frankfort, IL | 20,260 | $157,615 | $439,784 |
| 22 | Gilberts, IL | 8,180 | $120,568 | $358,792 |
| 23 | Barrington Hills, IL | 3,890 | $185,278 | $853,087 |
| 24 | Barrington, IL | 11,244 | $160,171 | $536,565 |
| 25 | Batavia, IL | 26,355 | $113,824 | $394,060 |
| 26 | Bartlett, IL | 40,829 | $126,555 | $383,920 |
| 27 | Clarendon Hills, IL | 8,658 | $115,923 | $561,818 |
| 28 | Elburn, IL | 5,958 | $106,347 | $400,516 |
| 29 | Palos Heights, IL | 11,965 | $105,366 | $354,730 |
| 30 | Campton Hills, IL | 10,556 | $192,432 | $570,534 |
| 31 | Arlington Heights, IL | 76,794 | $113,502 | $403,495 |
| 32 | Plainfield, IL | 44,941 | $143,064 | $363,320 |
| 33 | Manhattan, IL | 9,590 | $123,307 | $351,681 |
| 34 | Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,304 | $128,132 | $483,880 |
| 35 | Oak Park, IL | 53,834 | $103,264 | $391,539 |
| 36 | Sugar Grove, IL | 9,251 | $118,628 | $393,885 |
| 37 | Shorewood, IL | 18,109 | $119,904 | $361,403 |
| 38 | Oswego, IL | 34,810 | $112,109 | $366,702 |
| 39 | Pingree Grove, IL | 10,213 | $106,597 | $332,287 |
| 40 | Downers Grove, IL | 49,996 | $115,461 | $424,001 |
| 41 | Itasca, IL | 9,627 | $113,162 | $380,589 |
| 42 | Darien, IL | 21,953 | $110,546 | $391,312 |
| 43 | Minooka, IL | 12,606 | $119,730 | $328,918 |
| 44 | Brookfield, IL | 19,349 | $98,867 | $307,049 |
| 45 | Oak Brook, IL | 8,065 | $158,663 | $823,438 |
| 46 | St. Charles, IL | 32,776 | $110,346 | $402,795 |
| 47 | Westchester, IL | 16,694 | $101,414 | $316,020 |
| 48 | Sleepy Hollow, IL | 3,205 | $139,955 | $412,640 |
| 49 | Homer Glen, IL | 24,507 | $130,235 | $460,898 |
| 50 | Yorkville, IL | 21,273 | $105,322 | $357,096 |
| 51 | Lisle, IL | 23,499 | $106,265 | $368,104 |
| 52 | Algonquin, IL | 29,888 | $129,658 | $353,976 |
| 53 | Willowbrook, IL | 9,177 | $95,649 | $294,149 |
| 54 | Mount Prospect, IL | 56,191 | $100,526 | $372,693 |
| 55 | Lake In The Hills, IL | 28,958 | $110,988 | $326,092 |
| 56 | Willow Springs, IL | 5,862 | $100,775 | $336,794 |
| 57 | Lombard, IL | 44,055 | $95,509 | $328,254 |
| 58 | Palos Park, IL | 4,836 | $128,370 | $472,000 |
| 59 | Orland Park, IL | 58,345 | $97,365 | $367,054 |
| 60 | Huntley, IL | 27,652 | $83,357 | $372,410 |
| 61 | Lockport, IL | 26,119 | $106,923 | $315,083 |
| 62 | Bloomingdale, IL | 22,435 | $96,779 | $375,771 |
| 63 | Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,744 | $107,428 | $343,446 |
| 64 | Woodridge, IL | 34,027 | $95,756 | $356,860 |
| 65 | Westmont, IL | 24,271 | $82,519 | $347,110 |
| 66 | South Elgin, IL | 23,841 | $118,293 | $318,828 |
| 67 | Roselle, IL | 22,846 | $104,167 | $331,035 |
| 68 | Orland Hills, IL | 6,842 | $92,830 | $292,934 |
| 69 | Channahon, IL | 13,807 | $112,771 | $337,892 |
| 70 | West Dundee, IL | 7,845 | $99,653 | $366,743 |
| 71 | Hampshire, IL | 8,113 | $104,746 | $351,414 |
| 72 | Oak Forest, IL | 27,199 | $89,758 | $263,395 |
| 73 | Schaumburg, IL | 77,571 | $92,818 | $304,016 |
| 74 | Tinley Park, IL | 55,571 | $99,628 | $297,581 |
| 75 | Carol Stream, IL | 39,656 | $103,525 | $330,804 |
| 76 | Indian Head Park, IL | 4,022 | $100,455 | $310,425 |
| 77 | Villa Park, IL | 22,753 | $90,287 | $302,069 |
| 78 | Norridge, IL | 15,291 | $84,539 | $354,846 |
| 79 | Sycamore, IL | 18,171 | $80,785 | $276,640 |
| 80 | Harwood Heights, IL | 8,942 | $77,617 | $336,787 |
| 81 | Morris, IL | 14,491 | $73,909 | $272,518 |
| 82 | North Aurora, IL | 17,750 | $104,547 | $338,366 |
| 83 | Warrenville, IL | 13,945 | $95,919 | $307,146 |
| 84 | Oakbrook Terrace, IL | 2,695 | $68,125 | $356,020 |
| 85 | Streamwood, IL | 39,556 | $94,951 | $280,844 |
| 86 | Montgomery, IL | 20,644 | $105,240 | $279,901 |
| 87 | Wood Dale, IL | 13,903 | $86,441 | $304,707 |
| 88 | Forest Park, IL | 14,165 | $78,625 | $238,889 |
| 89 | Palatine, IL | 67,223 | $93,383 | $312,692 |
| 90 | Elwood, IL | 2,315 | $78,214 | $286,764 |
| 91 | North Riverside, IL | 7,245 | $63,625 | $305,218 |
| 92 | Des Plaines, IL | 60,087 | $86,552 | $293,438 |
| 93 | Elmwood Park, IL | 24,281 | $75,784 | $304,247 |
| 94 | Berkeley, IL | 5,283 | $79,691 | $260,880 |
| 95 | Bolingbrook, IL | 73,755 | $102,057 | $317,734 |
| 96 | Rolling Meadows, IL | 24,054 | $91,287 | $288,538 |
| 97 | Hickory Hills, IL | 14,915 | $81,385 | $290,409 |
| 98 | River Grove, IL | 10,532 | $72,466 | $268,385 |
| 99 | Addison, IL | 35,685 | $82,547 | $325,203 |
| 100 | Cortland, IL | 4,734 | $76,869 | $247,783 |
