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 2025.
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 196 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 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Illinois for 2025? According to the latest data, Palos Hills is the best place to retire in the Prairie State for 2025.
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 2025
/10
Population: 18,139
Median Income: $83,969
Median Home Price: $259,200
Median Rent: $1,267
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Palos Hills: Data
/10
Population: 19,235
Median Income: $108,429
Median Home Price: $314,000
Median Rent: $1,328
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Brookfield: Data
/10
Population: 10,268
Median Income: $77,886
Median Home Price: $185,800
Median Rent: $776
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Highland: Data
/10
Population: 15,166
Median Income: $58,371
Median Home Price: $113,300
Median Rent: $865
Distance to Closest Airport: 59 miles
More on Dixon: Data
/10
Population: 17,643
Median Income: $126,100
Median Home Price: $447,800
Median Rent: $1,211
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Lemont: Data
/10
Population: 12,508
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $1,206,300
Median Rent: $1,750
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Winnetka: Data
/10
Population: 17,155
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $999,100
Median Rent: $1,981
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Hinsdale: Data
/10
Population: 39,241
Median Income: $138,059
Median Home Price: $539,300
Median Rent: $1,511
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Park Ridge: Data
/10
Population: 28,270
Median Income: $133,346
Median Home Price: $522,600
Median Rent: $1,326
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Glen Ellyn: Data
/10
Population: 16,524
Median Income: $103,561
Median Home Price: $297,400
Median Rent: $1,767
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Westchester: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Prairie State for 2025
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 196 places from across the state.
For these 196, 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 196, 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 2025. 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, Brookfield, Highland, Dixon, Lemont, Winnetka, Hinsdale, Park Ridge, Glen Ellyn, and Westchester.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Montgomery
- Dekalb
- Country Club Hills
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 | 18,139 | $83,969 | $259,200 | $1,267 |
| 2 | Brookfield | 19,235 | $108,429 | $314,000 | $1,328 |
| 3 | Highland | 10,268 | $77,886 | $185,800 | $776 |
| 4 | Dixon | 15,166 | $58,371 | $113,300 | $865 |
| 5 | Lemont | 17,643 | $126,100 | $447,800 | $1,211 |
| 6 | Winnetka | 12,508 | $250,001 | $1,206,300 | $1,750 |
| 7 | Hinsdale | 17,155 | $250,001 | $999,100 | $1,981 |
| 8 | Park Ridge | 39,241 | $138,059 | $539,300 | $1,511 |
| 9 | Glen Ellyn | 28,270 | $133,346 | $522,600 | $1,326 |
| 10 | Westchester | 16,524 | $103,561 | $297,400 | $1,767 |