If you’re looking for safe cities and neighborhoods, amazing schools, large green spaces, good food, and just overall good family friendly fun, you can stop your search: Illinois is one of the most family friendly states in the USA. Great family friendly Illinois cities are around every corner in The Land of Lincoln. You can have your family on a Lake Michigan beach, at an amusement park, and camping at a state park, all in the same day.
Your in luck parents, some of these family friendly cities have family friendly breweries for that end of the day family friendly fun. And lucky for you, they have many that are both kid and dog friendly. In all seriousness, Illinois has some of the best schools in the country. Blue Ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools with focus in STEM and the Arts, and colleges like Northwestern and the University of Illinois have been delivering the next generation to work at major Illinois companies like Caterpillar, McDonalds, and Walgreens. (This is especially nice for those parents who don’t want their kids to fly the coop for school or work.)
Now don’t count yourselves out of the mix, parents, and definitely don’t let Illinois’ unemployment rate scare you. There are plenty of jobs available in Illinois for anyone who wants to work from Chicago down to Springfield. And with a $63,000/year household median, there’s plenty of moneyto keep your family happy, healthy, and having fun. And speaking of healthy, Illinois has a lot of healthy options. The Prairie state is leading the way in agriculture, they have boatloads of Farmers’ Markets, and plenty of space to run. They are one of the top states for life expectancy.
To take a closer look at the top ten cities on our family friendly Illinois cities for 2026, scroll on down.
$230,255 median income · 43.6% households with kids
Located in
Cook County, Illinois
Western Springs is a village located in Cook County, Illinois, United States and is a suburb of Chicago. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 12,975. It is twinned with Rugeley, United Kingdom.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$250,001 median income · 48.2% households with kids
Located in
DuPage County, Illinois
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$250,001 median income · 43.2% households with kids
Located in
Cook County, Illinois
Winnetka is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located 16 miles north of downtown Chicago. The population was 12,187 at the 2010 census. The village is one of the wealthiest places in the nation in terms of household income, and the richest in Illinois.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$235,081 median income · 28.6% households with kids
Located in
Lake County, Illinois
Lake Forest is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 19,375. The city is along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in 1857 as a stop for travelers making their way south to Chicago. The Lake Forest City Hall, designed by Charles Sumner Frost, was completed in 1898 and originally housed the fire department, the Lake Forest Library, and city offices. Lake Forest is among the wealthiest cities in the United States.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$146,786 median income · 33.4% households with kids
Located in
Cook County, Illinois
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$112,434 median income · 41.0% households with kids
Located in
Madison County, Illinois
Troy is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,888 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$147,989 median income · 40.8% households with kids
Located in
Lake County, Illinois
Barrington is an affluent suburban village in Cook County and Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,327 at the 2010 census. Located approximately 32 miles northwest of Chicago, the area features wetlands, forest preserves, parks, and horse trails in a country-suburban setting.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$181,660 median income · 35.4% households with kids
Located in
Lake County, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States, approximately 25 miles north of Chicago with a small portion extending into Cook County, Illinois. The population was 18,225 at the 2010 census, a decline of 175 from 2000.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$159,929 median income · 38.4% households with kids
Located in
Cook County, Illinois
La Grange, a suburb of Chicago, is a village in Cook County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 15,550 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$140,938 median income · 34.9% households with kids
Located in
DuPage County, Illinois
Glen Ellyn is an affluent suburban village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the village population was 27,450.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Illinois’s statewide median.
Illinois statewide median: $83,390
Illinois statewide median: $285,736
On the map
Where Illinois’s most family-friendly cities are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Illinois anyways?
To give you the places in Illinois that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Illinois, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Illinois, that meant a total of 198 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Illinois.
The full plate
Best Places For Families In Illinois
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | % Households w/ Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Springs | 13,446 | $230,255 | $863,783 | 43.6% |
| 2 | Hinsdale | 17,175 | $250,001 | $1,244,308 | 48.2% |
| 3 | Winnetka | 12,484 | $250,001 | $1,818,305 | 43.2% |
| 4 | Lake Forest | 19,416 | $235,081 | $1,167,578 | 28.6% |
| 5 | River Forest | 11,992 | $146,786 | $716,652 | 33.4% |
| 6 | Troy | 11,647 | $112,434 | $324,854 | 41.0% |
| 7 | Barrington | 11,077 | $147,989 | $613,360 | 40.8% |
| 8 | Deerfield | 19,518 | $181,660 | $635,444 | 35.4% |
| 9 | La Grange | 15,998 | $159,929 | $639,655 | 38.4% |
| 10 | Glen Ellyn | 28,390 | $140,938 | $562,204 | 34.9% |
| 11 | Libertyville | 20,525 | $165,667 | $603,285 | 35.6% |
| 12 | Manhattan | 11,026 | $128,522 | $385,490 | 52.6% |
| 13 | Elmhurst | 45,671 | $149,644 | $613,207 | 33.1% |
| 14 | Lisle | 23,407 | $107,479 | $425,025 | 27.2% |
| 15 | Winfield | 10,095 | $135,795 | $456,207 | 28.4% |
| 16 | Lemont | 17,820 | $123,370 | $565,404 | 36.7% |
| 17 | Frankfort | 20,651 | $154,375 | $487,132 | 42.6% |
| 18 | Wheaton | 53,557 | $120,008 | $501,273 | 28.9% |
| 19 | La Grange Park | 13,447 | $120,408 | $480,916 | 31.6% |
| 20 | Edwardsville | 26,474 | $86,721 | $324,629 | 28.1% |
| 21 | Palos Heights | 12,152 | $108,740 | $389,153 | 20.8% |
| 22 | Grayslake | 20,929 | $113,972 | $361,376 | 33.9% |
| 23 | Wilmette | 27,503 | $190,662 | $961,183 | 39.3% |
| 24 | Brookfield | 19,331 | $110,295 | $345,445 | 34.1% |
| 25 | Geneva | 21,258 | $144,341 | $532,206 | 30.5% |
| 26 | Cary | 17,923 | $113,026 | $368,573 | 35.4% |
| 27 | Highland Park | 30,398 | $168,094 | $751,001 | 31.1% |
| 28 | Mahomet | 10,049 | $118,586 | $339,545 | 42.1% |
| 29 | Oswego | 36,375 | $123,792 | $416,738 | 42.3% |
| 30 | Homer Glen | 24,529 | $136,678 | $505,179 | 33.9% |
| 31 | Antioch | 14,859 | $108,899 | $344,396 | 40.7% |
| 32 | Naperville | 150,692 | $155,105 | $610,454 | 38.0% |
| 33 | Park Ridge | 38,667 | $142,986 | $564,905 | 32.5% |
| 34 | New Lenox | 28,006 | $140,865 | $440,656 | 45.2% |
| 35 | Round Lake | 18,628 | $111,977 | $319,867 | 39.5% |
| 36 | Palos Hills | 18,081 | $83,533 | $280,022 | 26.3% |
| 37 | Bartlett | 40,501 | $133,240 | $430,326 | 35.6% |
| 38 | Chatham | 14,639 | $106,773 | $298,424 | 37.8% |
| 39 | Campton Hills | 10,877 | $209,134 | $666,624 | 37.3% |
| 40 | Plainfield | 46,708 | $144,000 | $421,481 | 48.3% |
| 41 | Westchester | 16,436 | $98,954 | $357,237 | 21.8% |
| 42 | Romeoville | 41,152 | $106,325 | $313,582 | 38.9% |
| 43 | Plano | 12,203 | $86,271 | $304,557 | 43.0% |
| 44 | Batavia | 27,151 | $120,056 | $453,319 | 33.6% |
| 45 | Mundelein | 31,915 | $108,340 | $380,533 | 32.0% |
| 46 | Morton Grove | 24,619 | $111,116 | $430,051 | 31.5% |
| 47 | Buffalo Grove | 42,891 | $129,395 | $436,990 | 38.0% |
| 48 | Warrenville | 14,718 | $100,321 | $352,076 | 27.6% |
| 49 | Glenview | 47,752 | $143,056 | $663,147 | 32.6% |
| 50 | Channahon | 13,927 | $119,494 | $374,127 | 36.1% |
| 51 | Bourbonnais | 18,078 | $81,708 | $293,559 | 31.1% |
| 52 | Yorkville | 23,617 | $108,513 | $399,862 | 39.2% |
| 53 | Downers Grove | 50,054 | $115,114 | $494,151 | 28.1% |
| 54 | West Chicago | 25,395 | $99,927 | $380,371 | 44.2% |
| 55 | Northbrook | 34,585 | $157,782 | $688,265 | 27.6% |
| 56 | Mokena | 20,021 | $123,889 | $443,959 | 30.7% |
| 57 | Darien | 21,879 | $111,215 | $449,623 | 25.3% |
| 58 | Lindenhurst | 14,417 | $131,474 | $347,218 | 39.2% |
| 59 | Lincolnwood | 13,112 | $109,731 | $542,075 | 32.9% |
| 60 | Pingree Grove | 10,914 | $114,294 | $369,702 | 44.7% |
| 61 | Glen Carbon | 13,977 | $97,168 | $331,015 | 31.1% |
| 62 | Lake Zurich | 19,832 | $135,968 | $488,103 | 34.4% |
| 63 | Mount Prospect | 55,472 | $101,720 | $433,814 | 31.2% |
| 64 | Crystal Lake | 40,579 | $108,418 | $374,460 | 35.4% |
| 65 | Arlington Heights | 76,005 | $116,723 | $470,945 | 28.6% |
| 66 | Sycamore | 18,559 | $84,120 | $313,784 | 31.1% |
| 67 | Westmont | 23,724 | $88,090 | $400,412 | 23.8% |
| 68 | Highland | 10,262 | $82,551 | $267,000 | 26.5% |
| 69 | River Grove | 10,451 | $69,858 | $300,774 | 30.3% |
| 70 | Palatine | 66,293 | $97,819 | $375,855 | 27.6% |
| 71 | Minooka | 12,891 | $115,445 | $364,409 | 47.0% |
| 72 | Burr Ridge | 11,141 | $156,829 | $828,471 | 23.1% |
| 73 | Evanston | 76,340 | $96,434 | $470,774 | 23.3% |
| 74 | Oak Park | 53,292 | $110,820 | $458,455 | 28.5% |
| 75 | Wood Dale | 13,933 | $91,382 | $347,554 | 29.8% |
| 76 | Lombard | 43,619 | $100,362 | $380,912 | 26.9% |
| 77 | Washington | 15,919 | $95,179 | $226,355 | 33.8% |
| 78 | Homewood | 19,294 | $100,139 | $243,248 | 36.4% |
| 79 | Skokie | 66,219 | $95,337 | $413,078 | 31.6% |
| 80 | Algonquin | 30,067 | $134,525 | $406,940 | 31.3% |
| 81 | Lake in the Hills | 28,800 | $117,151 | $369,917 | 46.7% |
| 82 | Lockport | 26,409 | $111,981 | $360,599 | 33.0% |
| 83 | Woodridge | 33,941 | $101,000 | $404,092 | 29.3% |
| 84 | Des Plaines | 59,156 | $97,875 | $339,855 | 28.5% |
| 85 | Oak Forest | 26,805 | $91,990 | $287,163 | 30.1% |
| 86 | South Holland | 20,911 | $85,280 | $222,965 | 31.0% |
| 87 | Swansea | 14,710 | $91,587 | $263,376 | 31.4% |
| 88 | Shorewood | 18,343 | $122,105 | $403,278 | 29.8% |
| 89 | Huntley | 28,005 | $88,536 | $417,547 | 24.5% |
| 90 | Streamwood | 39,001 | $101,218 | $321,982 | 32.7% |
| 91 | Bloomingdale | 22,457 | $102,928 | $428,844 | 28.1% |
| 92 | Vernon Hills | 26,876 | $121,943 | $448,031 | 33.4% |
| 93 | Dixon | 14,910 | $59,406 | $167,290 | 27.8% |
| 94 | Aurora | 179,898 | $93,633 | $316,958 | 40.9% |
| 95 | Orland Park | 57,916 | $98,910 | $397,472 | 26.9% |
| 96 | Villa Park | 22,345 | $95,015 | $354,427 | 32.7% |
| 97 | Wheeling | 38,433 | $85,205 | $305,781 | 26.3% |
| 98 | Carol Stream | 39,460 | $102,309 | $377,328 | 29.4% |
| 99 | Rolling Meadows | 24,027 | $98,514 | $322,644 | 30.3% |
| 100 | Evergreen Park | 19,420 | $95,719 | $281,356 | 35.5% |
Source: U.S. Census data via Saturday Night Science. 198 Illinois cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Illinois
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Illinois ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Illinois are Western Springs, Hinsdale, Winnetka, Lake Forest, River Forest, Troy, Barrington, Deerfield, La Grange, and Glen Ellyn.
