The 10 Best Small Towns In Illinois For 2023


The best small towns in Illinois are Leland Grove and Germa for 2023 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 26, 2023

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.

Before we get to the top 15, here’s a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Illinois for 2023.

The 10 Best Small Towns To Live In Illinois For 2023

  1. Leland Grove
  2. Germa
  3. Prestbury
  4. Dunlap
  5. Forest Lake
  6. Philo
  7. Knollwood
  8. Rochester
  9. Tremont
  10. Sherman

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:

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

The 15 Best Small Towns In Illinois For 2023

1. Leland Grove

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,336
Median Income: $123,810 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $235,100 (35th Best)
More on Leland Grove:

2. Germa

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,406
Median Income: $143,447 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $238,600 (33rd Best)
More on Germa:

3. Prestbury

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,051
Median Income: $140,301 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $317,900 (20th Best)
More on Prestbury:

4. Dunlap

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,549
Median Income: $119,712 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $233,500 (36th Best)
More on Dunlap:

5. Forest Lake

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,476
Median Income: $134,821 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $316,200 (21st Best)
More on Forest Lake:

6. Philo

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,421
Median Income: $94,635 (53rd Best)
Median Home Value: $159,700 (98th Best)
More on Philo:

7. Knollwood

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,719
Median Income: $123,523 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $336,700 (18th Best)
More on Knollwood:

8. Rochester

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,940
Median Income: $105,140 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $207,900 (45th Best)
More on Rochester:

9. Tremont

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,333
Median Income: $68,295 (124th Best)
Median Home Value: $170,500 (81st Best)
More on Tremont:

10. Sherman

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,061
Median Income: $132,500 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $249,800 (30th Best)
More on Sherman:

11. Hudson

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,029
Median Income: $98,125 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $183,500 (62nd Best)
More on Hudson:

12. Third Lake

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,137
Median Income: $141,000 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $274,800 (25th Best)
More on Third Lake:

13. Bannockburn

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 1,315
Median Income: $147,500 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $987,500 (2nd Best)
More on Bannockburn:

14. Teutopolis

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,825
Median Income: $79,474 (86th Best)
Median Home Value: $175,600 (70th Best)
More on Teutopolis:

15. Kenilworth

Kenilworth, IL

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,423
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,286,500 (1st Best)
More on Kenilworth:

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 2017-2021 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 – 370 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 370, 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?

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

  1. Wamac
  2. Alorton
  3. Cairo

For more Illinois reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Illinois

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 Leland Grove, IL 1,336 $123,810 $235,100
2 Germa, IL 3,406 $143,447 $238,600
3 Prestbury, IL 2,051 $140,301 $317,900
4 Dunlap, IL 1,549 $119,712 $233,500
5 Forest Lake, IL 1,476 $134,821 $316,200
6 Philo, IL 1,421 $94,635 $159,700
7 Knollwood, IL 1,719 $123,523 $336,700
8 Rochester, IL 3,940 $105,140 $207,900
9 Tremont, IL 2,333 $68,295 $170,500
10 Sherman, IL 4,061 $132,500 $249,800
11 Hudson, IL 2,029 $98,125 $183,500
12 Third Lake, IL 1,137 $141,000 $274,800
13 Bannockburn, IL 1,315 $147,500 $987,500
14 Teutopolis, IL 1,825 $79,474 $175,600
15 Kenilworth, IL 2,423 $250,001 $1,286,500
16 Aviston, IL 2,417 $84,735 $170,600
17 St. Joseph, IL 3,888 $94,158 $194,600
18 Orion, IL 1,859 $75,100 $149,700
19 Indian Head Park, IL 4,059 $93,398 $271,800
20 Stillman Valley, IL 1,277 $74,773 $148,600
21 Williamsville, IL 1,452 $89,551 $162,800
22 Downs, IL 1,454 $95,313 $198,200
23 Forsyth, IL 3,674 $96,875 $244,500
24 Coal Valley, IL 3,835 $80,095 $173,600
25 Green Oaks, IL 4,067 $98,056 $593,400
26 Tower Lakes, IL 1,340 $148,750 $465,800
27 Kildeer, IL 4,093 $226,375 $639,900
28 Lakewood, IL 4,489 $156,477 $411,800
29 Deer Park, IL 3,638 $165,625 $553,800
30 Port Barrington, IL 1,686 $140,500 $316,000
31 Heritage Lake, IL 1,623 $105,156 $168,600
32 Twin Grove, IL 1,506 $100,000 $226,300
33 Metamora, IL 4,032 $80,325 $173,200
34 Beecher, IL 4,568 $89,543 $193,700
35 Lexington, IL 2,042 $83,233 $148,900
36 Oreana, IL 1,105 $83,214 $114,200
37 St. Jacob, IL 1,538 $89,571 $161,400
38 Millstadt, IL 4,071 $85,845 $176,800
39 Wayne, IL 2,548 $143,750 $592,300
40 Palos Park, IL 4,859 $122,676 $386,800
41 Roanoke, IL 1,831 $65,114 $122,200
42 Smithton, IL 4,192 $99,279 $203,400
43 Riverwoods, IL 3,742 $213,068 $705,700
44 Fairbury, IL 3,674 $59,456 $138,600
45 Sleepy Hollow, IL 3,234 $127,545 $310,600
46 Fox River Grove, IL 4,710 $109,645 $237,200
47 Hainesville, IL 3,572 $107,868 $173,600
48 Albers, IL 1,431 $103,554 $176,500
49 Port Byron, IL 1,999 $83,077 $224,700
50 Peotone, IL 4,137 $86,625 $216,000
51 Germa, IL 1,220 $67,031 $152,400
52 Mackinaw, IL 1,956 $66,908 $135,700
53 Hanna City, IL 1,372 $62,550 $106,600
54 Fisher, IL 1,797 $74,504 $146,600
55 Minier, IL 1,105 $62,813 $117,200
56 Lake Camelot, IL 1,532 $104,773 $177,300
57 Knoxville, IL 3,258 $67,750 $109,600
58 Lebanon, IL 4,737 $75,179 $120,700
59 New Berlin, IL 1,256 $72,500 $137,000
60 Paxton, IL 4,269 $57,794 $102,400
61 North Utica, IL 1,157 $96,563 $184,100
62 Coyne Center, IL 1,019 $107,212 $196,500
63 Cherry Valley, IL 2,726 $69,358 $176,100
64 Barrington Hills, IL 4,236 $185,446 $735,800
65 Sidney, IL 1,040 $74,943 $150,700
66 Oakwood Hills, IL 2,714 $111,528 $229,000
67 Marine, IL 1,185 $69,688 $136,200
68 Carthage, IL 2,554 $68,654 $96,300
69 Tuscola, IL 4,769 $68,019 $129,700
70 West Peoria, IL 4,300 $51,724 $89,700
71 Morrison, IL 3,918 $60,461 $107,400
72 Byron, IL 3,740 $66,620 $148,000
73 The Galena Territory, IL 1,534 $108,141 $262,700
74 Jerome, IL 2,049 $52,422 $102,000
75 Winnebago, IL 3,323 $85,300 $147,500
76 Long Creek, IL 1,415 $86,042 $141,200
77 Rosewood Heights, IL 4,061 $75,631 $117,200
78 Auburn, IL 4,563 $86,367 $136,300
79 Poplar Grove, IL 4,514 $104,559 $191,500
80 Heyworth, IL 2,834 $71,667 $168,000
81 Fox Lake Hills, IL 2,396 $92,159 $190,100
82 Chebanse, IL 1,163 $75,000 $140,400
83 Elmwood, IL 2,484 $78,770 $129,700
84 North Barrington, IL 2,814 $205,682 $637,600
85 Lily Lake, IL 1,278 $122,083 $354,500
86 Catlin, IL 1,989 $51,875 $98,000
87 Tolono, IL 3,578 $66,842 $149,200
88 Timberlane, IL 1,323 $175,625 $289,000
89 Clifton, IL 1,283 $83,438 $145,500
90 Maroa, IL 1,973 $60,625 $105,100
91 Breese, IL 4,300 $64,102 $147,800
92 Olympia Fields, IL 4,949 $95,946 $239,600
93 Crystal Lawns, IL 2,024 $96,225 $191,900
94 Galena, IL 3,212 $57,632 $153,800
95 Rosemont, IL 4,027 $62,148 $374,700
96 Herscher, IL 1,251 $78,906 $170,300
97 Prairie Grove, IL 1,928 $117,500 $389,100
98 East Dundee, IL 3,117 $71,795 $230,100
99 Rome, IL 1,556 $72,014 $135,800
100 Warrensburg, IL 1,249 $74,688 $105,500
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