The 10 Best Small Towns In Illinois For 2025


The best small towns in Illinois are Leland Grove and Dunlap for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Illinois. Best sururbs in Illinois. Best counties in Illinois.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Prairie State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Illinois based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Illinois ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Illinois For 2025

  1. Leland Grove
  2. Dunlap
  3. Hudson
  4. Knollwood
  5. Prestbury
  6. Sherman
  7. Rochester
  8. Stillman Valley
  9. Kenilworth
  10. Third Lake
  11. Metamora
  12. Bannockburn
  13. St. Joseph
  14. Philo
  15. Germa

Best Small Towns To Live In Illinois Map

What’s the best small town in Illinois? Leland Grove is the best small town in Illinois based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Leland Grove, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Prairie State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Illinois For 2025

1. Leland Grove

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,595
Median Income: $126,944 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $261,500 (39th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

2. Dunlap

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,448
Median Income: $137,240 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $283,800 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

3. Hudson

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,048
Median Income: $114,125 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $221,100 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

4. Knollwood

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,907
Median Income: $133,452 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $372,500 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

5. Prestbury

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,174
Median Income: $160,370 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $359,700 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

6. Sherman

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,211
Median Income: $147,025 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $291,300 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

7. Rochester

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,784
Median Income: $112,689 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $241,900 (49th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%

8. Stillman Valley

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,261
Median Income: $87,311 (90th Best)
Median Home Value: $168,000 (124th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

9. Kenilworth

Kenilworth, IL

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,543
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,409,800 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

10. Third Lake

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,203
Median Income: $150,893 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $329,500 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

11. Metamora

Metamora, IL

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,094
Median Income: $99,091 (64th Best)
Median Home Value: $209,800 (79th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Bannockburn

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 1,125
Median Income: $195,625 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,110,800 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

13. St. Joseph

St. Joseph, IL

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,833
Median Income: $114,594 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $257,400 (43rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

14. Philo

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,461
Median Income: $103,438 (57th Best)
Median Home Value: $198,100 (97th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

15. Germa

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,425
Median Income: $141,719 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $265,300 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Illinois

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Illinois possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 357 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 357, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Illinois. Top of that list — Leland Grove.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Illinois.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Illinois are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Illinois are Leland Grove, Dunlap, Hudson, Knollwood, Prestbury, Sherman, Rochester, Stillman Valley, Kenilworth, and Third Lake.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Illinois:

  1. Cairo
  2. Ford Heights
  3. Grayville

For more Illinois reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Illinois

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Leland Grove, IL 1,595 $126,944 1.8%
2 Dunlap, IL 1,448 $137,240 2.3%
3 Hudson, IL 2,048 $114,125 2.0%
4 Knollwood, IL 1,907 $133,452 0.0%
5 Prestbury, IL 2,174 $160,370 0.0%
6 Sherman, IL 4,211 $147,025 2.9%
7 Rochester, IL 3,784 $112,689 3.6%
8 Stillman Valley, IL 1,261 $87,311 1.3%
9 Kenilworth, IL 2,543 $250,001 3.4%
10 Third Lake, IL 1,203 $150,893 2.8%
11 Metamora, IL 4,094 $99,091 0.0%
12 Bannockburn, IL 1,125 $195,625 1.9%
13 St. Joseph, IL 3,833 $114,594 0.7%
14 Philo, IL 1,461 $103,438 1.1%
15 Germa, IL 3,425 $141,719 3.5%
16 Wayne, IL 2,284 $169,583 2.1%
17 Teutopolis, IL 1,693 $96,875 1.5%
18 Downs, IL 1,451 $106,809 0.9%
19 Green Oaks, IL 4,085 $133,472 2.2%
20 Deer Park, IL 3,711 $160,750 2.0%
21 Williamsville, IL 1,519 $104,135 1.8%
22 Tremont, IL 2,300 $77,420 0.7%
23 St. Jacob, IL 1,617 $107,188 2.0%
24 Tower Lakes, IL 1,148 $172,656 3.3%
25 Kildeer, IL 4,189 $250,001 2.9%
26 Riverwoods, IL 3,988 $243,036 0.9%
27 Orion, IL 1,849 $88,500 3.8%
28 Oreana, IL 1,183 $93,194 4.3%
29 Forsyth, IL 3,656 $113,456 4.8%
30 Beecher, IL 4,837 $101,957 0.6%
31 Tuscola, IL 4,675 $77,034 0.8%
32 Crystal Lawns, IL 1,965 $109,415 3.4%
33 Aviston, IL 2,451 $111,354 1.8%
34 Twin Grove, IL 1,554 $113,250 0.0%
35 Marine, IL 1,181 $76,304 0.0%
36 Red Bud, IL 3,789 $68,051 0.4%
37 Lakewood, IL 4,699 $185,774 1.2%
38 Port Barrington, IL 1,574 $144,167 2.3%
39 Coal Valley, IL 4,142 $104,781 3.3%
40 The Galena Territory, IL 1,644 $112,386 0.6%
41 Peotone, IL 4,462 $104,792 4.9%
42 Forest Lake, IL 1,797 $92,956 5.3%
43 Indian Head Park, IL 3,992 $107,019 6.8%
44 Le Roy, IL 3,177 $87,500 3.5%
45 Lebanon, IL 4,431 $84,766 0.8%
46 Fairbury, IL 3,683 $65,215 4.5%
47 Hamel, IL 1,004 $105,313 0.4%
48 Oakwood Hills, IL 2,454 $113,125 4.8%
49 Port Byron, IL 1,959 $101,250 3.2%
50 Lexington, IL 2,074 $98,676 3.0%
51 Winnebago, IL 2,896 $82,813 2.2%
52 Heritage Lake, IL 1,708 $117,422 0.0%
53 Rome, IL 1,628 $95,263 0.0%
54 Albers, IL 1,428 $116,691 3.3%
55 Smithton, IL 3,512 $114,453 3.3%
56 Newark, IL 1,152 $129,688 1.8%
57 Jerome, IL 1,910 $55,777 2.7%
58 Tolono, IL 3,546 $79,333 10.0%
59 Marquette Heights, IL 2,613 $77,386 3.5%
60 Germa, IL 1,268 $83,661 1.8%
61 Mount Sterling, IL 1,949 $63,922 1.6%
62 Sleepy Hollow, IL 3,165 $147,407 3.8%
63 Lake Camelot, IL 1,744 $128,333 4.4%
64 Catlin, IL 2,161 $67,344 0.6%
65 North Barrington, IL 3,113 $216,250 4.2%
66 Heyworth, IL 2,818 $90,556 3.7%
67 Rapids City, IL 1,012 $90,750 6.0%
68 Millstadt, IL 4,013 $94,536 4.0%
69 Prairie Grove, IL 1,992 $138,229 3.0%
70 Fisher, IL 1,600 $92,697 1.8%
71 Marshall, IL 3,987 $70,950 1.5%
72 Roanoke, IL 1,987 $74,141 1.5%
73 Mackinaw, IL 1,869 $71,875 3.3%
74 Lena, IL 2,778 $76,076 2.9%
75 Big Rock, IL 1,208 $126,667 3.6%
76 Hanna City, IL 1,334 $70,774 2.0%
77 Warrensburg, IL 1,076 $88,897 5.1%
78 Paxton, IL 4,201 $60,470 1.8%
79 Byron, IL 3,742 $78,235 3.9%
80 Herscher, IL 1,302 $100,833 5.8%
81 Elmwood, IL 2,254 $87,644 2.2%
82 Hampton, IL 1,946 $86,679 4.3%
83 Barrington Hills, IL 3,923 $186,667 3.8%
84 Petersburg, IL 2,590 $59,850 1.0%
85 Mount Pulaski, IL 1,513 $70,175 3.0%
86 Fox River Grove, IL 4,501 $125,104 8.1%
87 Morrison, IL 3,781 $67,580 2.7%
88 Poplar Grove, IL 4,202 $93,409 5.5%
89 Timberlane, IL 1,291 $194,286 14.0%
90 Pawnee, IL 2,706 $77,977 3.9%
91 Knoxville, IL 3,137 $80,385 4.5%
92 Okawville, IL 1,312 $84,881 4.9%
93 Lily Lake, IL 1,432 $145,192 8.2%
94 Granville, IL 1,463 $70,893 4.1%
95 Carthage, IL 2,508 $75,179 0.6%
96 Trenton, IL 2,673 $80,227 4.2%
97 Pistakee Highlands, IL 3,214 $92,304 2.8%
98 Lake Of The Woods, IL 1,976 $69,054 9.9%
99 Palos Park, IL 4,832 $126,263 4.8%
100 Breese, IL 4,373 $72,900 4.0%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings