Are you sick of being a city slicker?
Do you long for life in suburban Illinois? Where you can drive an overly-large vehicle to the store for groceries and schlep the kids around to practices and appointments without worrying about a parking space.
We do, too.
If you wanted to move out to the suburbs of Springfield, where would you go? And how would you decide on the ranking factors to help you pick which Illinois suburb was best?
No worries. We got it all figured out here using Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the 10 best suburbs in the Prairie State
Western Springs is the place to be when it comes to being a soccer mom in suburban Illinois.
So if you’re thinking of packing up your mini van and making a move to a quiet place to live in Illinois, we’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for a detailed methodology. Or, check out the best places to live in Illinois and the best places to raise a family in Illinois.
Best Suburbs In Illinois For 2026
/10
Population: 13,446
Median Income: $230,255
Average Home Price: $863,782
More on Western Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Western Springs is located 11 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 5,487
Median Income: $161,500
Average Home Price: $841,445
More on Northfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Northfield is located 18 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 19,518
Median Income: $181,660
Average Home Price: $635,444
More on Deerfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Deerfield is located 24 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 17,175
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,244,308
More on Hinsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Hinsdale is located 12 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 7,275
Median Income: $207,434
Average Home Price: $787,209
More on Inverness: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Inverness is located 28 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 53,557
Median Income: $120,008
Average Home Price: $501,273
More on Wheaton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Wheaton is located 21 miles west of Chicago.
/10
South Barrington is located 29 miles west of Chicago.
/10
Population: 42,891
Median Income: $129,395
Average Home Price: $436,990
More on Buffalo Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Buffalo Grove is located 26 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 8,701
Median Income: $248,933
Average Home Price: $1,577,964
More on Glencoe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Glencoe is located 20 miles north of Chicago.
/10
Population: 13,447
Median Income: $120,408
Average Home Price: $480,916
More on La Grange Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
La Grange Park is located 9 miles west of Chicago.
Methodology:How we crunched the suburb numbers for the Prairie State
We have to use Saturday Night Science and look at several metrics to give you the best suburbs in Illinois. We want to measure the type of place around major cities that people arguing at a bar would say makes it the “best suburb.”
First, we had to define a suburb. Using U.S. Census data produced for the state of Illinois, we looked at every town with at least 5,000 residents, and within 30 miles of a city that’s over 200,000 people.
In other words, suburbs.
We paid particular attention to the following criteria:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is Better)
- Unemployment Rates
- Commute Time
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We ranked each suburb in Illinois across these criteria from one to 159, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the town posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Suburb To Live In Illinois.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and ideal places to live in Illinois.
Read on to see why Western Springs is the ‘burb with the most, while Markham is probably not the best place to live in Illinois.
Summary: There You Have It – The Best Suburbs In Illinois
If you’re measuring the locations in Illinois where there are lots to do, and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best suburbs in Illinois are Western Springs, Northfield, Deerfield, Hinsdale, Inverness, Wheaton, South Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Glencoe, and La Grange Park.
Here’s a look at the worst suburbs in Illinois according to the data:
- Markham
- Chicago Heights
- Riverdale
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
- Richest Cities In Illinois
- Safest Places In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois
The Best Suburbs In Illinois
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Springs | 13,446 | $230,255 | $863,782 |
| 2 | Northfield | 5,487 | $161,500 | $841,445 |
| 3 | Deerfield | 19,518 | $181,660 | $635,444 |
| 4 | Hinsdale | 17,175 | $250,001 | $1,244,308 |
| 5 | Inverness | 7,275 | $207,434 | $787,209 |
| 6 | Wheaton | 53,557 | $120,008 | $501,273 |
| 7 | South Barrington | 5,021 | $221,575 | $1,108,364 |
| 8 | Buffalo Grove | 42,891 | $129,395 | $436,990 |
| 9 | Glencoe | 8,701 | $248,933 | $1,577,964 |
| 10 | La Grange Park | 13,447 | $120,408 | $480,916 |
| 11 | Riverside | 9,039 | $153,686 | $547,998 |
| 12 | Winnetka | 12,484 | $250,001 | $1,818,304 |
| 13 | Troy | 11,647 | $112,434 | $324,854 |
| 14 | Highland Park | 30,398 | $168,094 | $751,000 |
| 15 | Northbrook | 34,585 | $157,782 | $688,265 |
| 16 | Lincolnshire | 7,980 | $185,580 | $714,055 |
| 17 | La Grange | 15,998 | $159,929 | $639,654 |
| 18 | Lake Forest | 19,416 | $235,081 | $1,167,578 |
| 19 | Clarendon Hills | 8,659 | $130,388 | $666,350 |
| 20 | Wilmette | 27,503 | $190,662 | $961,182 |
| 21 | Arlington Heights | 76,005 | $116,723 | $470,944 |
| 22 | Park Ridge | 38,667 | $142,986 | $564,904 |
| 23 | Burr Ridge | 11,141 | $156,829 | $828,471 |
| 24 | Winfield | 10,095 | $135,795 | $456,206 |
| 25 | Elmhurst | 45,671 | $149,644 | $613,207 |
| 26 | New Lenox | 28,006 | $140,865 | $440,655 |
| 27 | Itasca | 9,355 | $114,294 | $443,025 |
| 28 | Frankfort | 20,651 | $154,375 | $487,132 |
| 29 | Glen Ellyn | 28,390 | $140,938 | $562,204 |
| 30 | Lisle | 23,407 | $107,479 | $425,025 |
| 31 | Downers Grove | 50,054 | $115,114 | $494,150 |
| 32 | Glenview | 47,752 | $143,056 | $663,146 |
| 33 | Naperville | 150,692 | $155,105 | $610,453 |
| 34 | Lemont | 17,820 | $123,370 | $565,404 |
| 35 | Mokena | 20,021 | $123,889 | $443,959 |
| 36 | Palos Heights | 12,152 | $108,740 | $389,152 |
| 37 | Westchester | 16,436 | $98,954 | $357,237 |
| 38 | Vernon Hills | 26,876 | $121,943 | $448,031 |
| 39 | Brookfield | 19,331 | $110,295 | $345,444 |
| 40 | Long Grove | 8,305 | $250,001 | $924,480 |
| 41 | Darien | 21,879 | $111,215 | $449,622 |
| 42 | Willow Springs | 5,868 | $103,583 | $386,669 |
| 43 | Columbia | 11,127 | $107,606 | $342,741 |
| 44 | Homer Glen | 24,529 | $136,678 | $505,178 |
| 45 | River Forest | 11,992 | $146,786 | $716,652 |
| 46 | Mount Prospect | 55,472 | $101,720 | $433,813 |
| 47 | Lombard | 43,619 | $100,362 | $380,912 |
| 48 | Westmont | 23,724 | $88,090 | $400,411 |
| 49 | Glen Carbon | 13,977 | $97,168 | $331,014 |
| 50 | Carol Stream | 39,460 | $102,309 | $377,327 |
| 51 | Bloomingdale | 22,457 | $102,928 | $428,844 |
| 52 | O’fallon | 32,262 | $105,982 | $308,470 |
| 53 | Lockport | 26,409 | $111,981 | $360,598 |
| 54 | Maryville | 8,316 | $100,670 | $325,041 |
| 55 | Morton Grove | 24,619 | $111,116 | $430,051 |
| 56 | Shiloh | 14,572 | $99,573 | $313,003 |
| 57 | Waterloo | 11,129 | $98,711 | $327,507 |
| 58 | Edwardsville | 26,474 | $86,721 | $324,629 |
| 59 | Mascoutah | 8,816 | $97,375 | $264,428 |
| 60 | Schaumburg | 76,868 | $97,514 | $349,953 |
| 61 | Woodridge | 33,941 | $101,000 | $404,091 |
| 62 | Palatine | 66,293 | $97,819 | $375,854 |
| 63 | Swansea | 14,710 | $91,587 | $263,376 |
| 64 | Oak Park | 53,292 | $110,820 | $458,455 |
| 65 | Lincolnwood | 13,112 | $109,731 | $542,075 |
| 66 | Harwood Heights | 8,821 | $81,086 | $377,396 |
| 67 | Warrenville | 14,718 | $100,321 | $352,076 |
| 68 | Oak Brook | 8,056 | $175,870 | $966,776 |
| 69 | Villa Park | 22,345 | $95,015 | $354,426 |
| 70 | Orland Park | 57,916 | $98,910 | $397,472 |
| 71 | Evanston | 76,340 | $96,434 | $470,774 |
| 72 | Willowbrook | 9,131 | $99,239 | $322,189 |
| 73 | Oak Forest | 26,805 | $91,990 | $287,163 |
| 74 | Tinley Park | 54,842 | $105,189 | $324,474 |
| 75 | Flossmoor | 9,391 | $133,663 | $327,345 |
| 76 | Des Plaines | 59,156 | $97,875 | $339,855 |
| 77 | Stickney | 6,952 | $66,942 | $286,404 |
| 78 | Rolling Meadows | 24,027 | $98,514 | $322,644 |
| 79 | Prospect Heights | 15,618 | $85,008 | $366,445 |
| 80 | Berkeley | 5,199 | $85,823 | $292,137 |
| 81 | Hoffman Estates | 51,175 | $106,806 | $394,617 |
| 82 | Streamwood | 39,001 | $101,218 | $321,982 |
| 83 | Skokie | 66,219 | $95,337 | $413,077 |
| 84 | Orland Hills | 6,719 | $122,039 | $327,783 |
| 85 | Roselle | 22,752 | $111,318 | $374,677 |
| 86 | Wood Dale | 13,933 | $91,382 | $347,553 |
| 87 | Wheeling | 38,433 | $85,205 | $305,781 |
| 88 | Bethalto | 9,239 | $64,775 | $197,188 |
| 89 | Evergreen Park | 19,420 | $95,719 | $281,355 |
| 90 | Addison | 35,489 | $90,431 | $372,968 |
| 91 | North Riverside | 7,249 | $77,170 | $340,576 |
| 92 | Palos Hills | 18,081 | $83,533 | $280,021 |
| 93 | Bolingbrook | 74,096 | $108,400 | $363,758 |
| 94 | Crete | 8,386 | $97,147 | $287,366 |
| 95 | Niles | 30,064 | $75,274 | $399,809 |
| 96 | Glendale Heights | 32,808 | $86,545 | $319,771 |
| 97 | Hanover Park | 36,732 | $91,763 | $321,958 |
| 98 | Elmwood Park | 23,868 | $91,955 | $338,383 |
| 99 | Godfrey | 17,712 | $94,543 | $214,595 |
| 100 | Monee | 5,108 | $91,969 | $337,963 |