2023 Best Places to Live in Illinois

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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• grade A+

• Population 1,315

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: I’d say this town is very normal, the things I love are down town long grove and the schools which are full of opportunities. My family moved for a larger house with more space and a good school, this area has both. We live a 5 minute drive away from down town long grove, which has three amazing fun festivals a year which include food and fun with your friends. Also the school district is really good, most/if not all of the students attend Stevenson High school, an amazing school full of great opportunities! I like this area overall, as you can see there are many upsides to living here. However it’s a small town, so I wouldn’t say the area is for everyone, and I’ve always loved the big cities.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 8,258

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.45 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: We have lived here since 2015 (moved from La Grange) and are very happy here. We moved for the schools and a larger home and lot size. Clarendon Hills is an extremely well run town. You get quick answers from the Village when you call and the streets are always in great shape when there is a snow storm. They also have newer infrastructure (electric, sewage, roads). You hardly ever have power outages and never a problem with flooding. The schools are extraordinary, teachers top of their game and school resources phenomenal. It's a great place to live!... Read 31 reviews

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• Population 8,707

• City in Illinois

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  693 reviews

Current Resident: Definitely can be impacted by wealth and racial demographics, but Naperville is a fantastic community for raising children and pursuing almost any career! Many opportunities in the arts and media.... Read 693 reviews

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• Population 149,013

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: Inverness is a great place to live if you like to have a bit of space to spread out and enjoy the outdoors. Our neighborhood is very walkable, and if you are a bit motivated you can even walk to the grocery store, Starbucks, etc. Most important, though, is that the people who live here are the best! Neighbors know each other and look out for one another without being intrusive.... Read 23 reviews

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• Population 7,684

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: Great community. Everyone lives their days with enthusiasm, and crime rates are extremely low. Overall a great community!... Read 48 reviews

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• Population 17,148

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.96 out of 5  171 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here my entire life, and I love how there have always been fun activities to do throughout the year provided by the village of Buffalo Grove. Every year for Labor Day weekend, Buffalo Grove Days is hosted, which actually is located a block away from my house which makes it easy for me to walk and meet up with my friends or family. There is great food, games, rides, and live music which all make this weekend one of my favorite weekends of the year. BG also has great public facilities, like the fitness center, golf course, driving range, park district building, schools, and public parks, just to name a few.... Read 171 reviews

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• Population 43,062

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: The Western Springs community is a safe, loving, and accepting community that I have spent the majority of my life in. Being in the Honor Society, I have gotten the chance to assist in the running of the Western Springs Historical society and have learned valuable information about our community in the meantime. I look forward to meeting even more of my friendly neighbors and helping the community thrive to the best of its ability.... Read 42 reviews

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• Population 13,550

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.44 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: I love where I live. Sometimes I wish I had sidewalks although as a kid I would bike on my neighborhood roads or bike paths and then by major roads there are usually side walks or ways for getting to places without being too dangerous. I wish there was a bit more diversity and a younger population so kids could have more fun with other kids. Overall a little bike ride to a friends house isn’t that bad and the area is very safe.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 4,093

• Town in Illinois

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  213 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up here and moved back one year ago. I wouldn't change it for anything! Tree lined streets, diverse walks of life, public parks everywhere, huge gardens, shops and locally owned businesses for days. Everything you could ever need. The perfect place to learn to ride a bike, sit on the beach right on the lake, chat on the porch with neighbors, bbq in the backyard, etc. Everyone here says hello and knows one another. Small town vibe in and around a big bustling city. Easy commute right into the city. Lovely little bars, breweries, wineries and kombucha on tap!... Read 213 reviews

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• Population 78,454

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Lincolnshire is a great community of people with excellent schools. D103, a K-8 district is located in Lincolnshire that is one of the main reason people move here as well as for being a feeder to Stevenson High School. Stevenson High School is the largest public high school in Illinois, and they are only making the school more inviting to students to provide a place of community in and out of the classroom. Lincolnshire also has close access to the tollway for easy transportation to the city, which makes living in the suburbs more reasonable for those with a commute. Sadly there is no downtown of Lincolnshire it is more of home and schools. Which means there is no walking in downtown during the day.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 7,905

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  57 reviews

Current Resident: I moved here from out of state and couldn’t be happier. Lisle has a small-town feel but is close to larger suburbs and retail areas as well as about 30 mins from downtown Chicago. The area is gorgeous, the people are friendly, the schools are great. It’s not very diverse, however. Overall I really enjoy living here.... Read 57 reviews

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• Population 23,982

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  132 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived here for most of my life and I'm moving away for college. Vernon Hills really is a safe place if you can afford it- little crime (as far as I know), nice enough people, and generally just a pleasant town. My biggest gripes would be having no town center. I'm jealous of Libertyville lol. You can't do anything without a car, so that makes going out a hassle. It depends where in vernon hills you are, but for me, I can only walk to two parks and maybe a supermarket. Not a lot. Teens don't have a lot of places to go after night events (school dances and performances), so we go to restaurants that are still open. A lot of places have started to just close on us, which is valid, but we don't know where else we can hang out. Another thing is how disconnected we are as a community. Yes people are friendly, but we just kinda co-exist. There'll be neighborhoods who are pretty close, but as far as I know, we don't have a notable community outside of that. again, nice place... Read 132 reviews

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• Population 26,723

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  95 reviews

Former Resident: Wilmette, Illinois is a wonderful place to grow up and raise a family. It is a beautiful town with much to do for all ages. It is directly next to Lake Michigan making it the perfect place for the summer. The school districts in the North Shore are incredible. They are ranked top 10 in the state and truly give your children a great education. On the other hand, it is very expensive to live here. Because of the wonderful location and amazing schools- taxes are very high and the price of homes goes up each year. People around the Northshore have so much money they dont know what to do with it!... Read 95 reviews

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• Population 27,895

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  6 reviews

Former Resident: A beautiful 1 square mile town in the suburbs of Chicago on Lake Michigan, this town is almost all white and Christian. The architecture is very pretty, and the public schools here are fantastic if you can afford the property tax.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 2,423

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  96 reviews

Former Resident: Northbrook, a Chicago suburb, offers a safe, family-friendly community with excellent schools and a welcoming atmosphere. Residents appreciate the proximity to Chicago while enjoying the tranquility of suburban life. The area's parks and recreational facilities provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Shopping and dining options, including Northbrook Court, cater to various tastes. To enhance the community, addressing traffic and transportation issues could improve commuting experiences. Efforts towards affordable housing and sustainability initiatives would benefit the diverse population. Developing local cultural and entertainment venues may enrich leisure opportunities, while promoting community engagement can foster a stronger sense of belonging.... Read 96 reviews

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• Population 35,108

• Neighborhood in Chicago, IL

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  Rating 5 out of 5  11 reviews

Nearby Resident: I live in nearby Dearborn Park and absolutely love being close to Printer's Row. The history of Printer's Row is super cool and not just the printing industry part. There are a ton of great restaurants and bars and an amazing bookstore. It's close to the loop and close to all the lakefront attractions. Public transportation is steps away. It's near the Loop but quiet compared to most downtown locations. For young families, there's a Montessori school nearby and of course we are close to Jones high school, which is nationally recognized for academic excellence, and to South Loop Elementary School, which our friends say is excellent. The neighborhood is diverse, nearby parks are great, we love the farmers market, and the loft condos are all very cool. Overall, it's no surprise that this is the #1 neighborhood in Chicago. For a city neighborhood, you really can't beat it!... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 2,100

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.96 out of 5  49 reviews

Current Resident: I really like living in Deerfield, although there is definitely not enough diversity. Overall, it's a nice place to live, with good opportunities for students and children. There are many good extracurricular options for students, no matter what their interest is. Local businesses sometimes tend to have struggles staying open for a long time, but the community does a good job at supporting them as they appear.... Read 49 reviews

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• Population 19,228

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  185 reviews

Current Resident: Oak Park is a wonderful neighborhood! Its mix of a city and suburban environment make it a great location for anyone. It's especially desirable to families. The neighborhood is beautiful, the schools are great, and the activity and nightlight is exceptional. It's also one of the more diverse suburbs. It's often connected with the neighboring town River Forest, which is also a great suburb. If you have young children, this is the perfect place to raise them.... Read 185 reviews

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• Population 54,100

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  44 reviews

Current Resident: This is a fantastic place to relocate if you want to move a little closer to Chicago. You're within a 30 minute drive from literally everything! The food is fantastic, the neighborhood is friendly, and the rent is really reasonable here. Only gripe here is that houses are way too overpriced.... Read 44 reviews

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• Population 13,501

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Riverwoods for seven years now and overall it has been a great experience. Living in the forest has been very peaceful and the community is amazing. Riverwoods has some of the prettiest homes and an amazing connection to nature. I have been very satisfied with my time living here but if there would be any changes it would be expanding the services provided. Often times we need to go to the neighboring towns for schools, public libraries, etc. Otherwise Riverwoods is a great place to live.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 3,742

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  63 reviews

Current Resident: Highland Park is a great town with a diverse group of individuals who are there for one another. There are always different events in the community that are appropriate for every age group. There is something to do from strolling down to the lake to grabbing delicious food downtown Highland Park!... Read 63 reviews

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• Population 30,245

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  118 reviews

Current Resident: It is a very great town. There are awesome restaurants downtown and everything is very close together. The communities are connected and there are many things to do. This town is also close to other towns where there are more things, and so it is a very good place to be.... Read 118 reviews

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• Population 20,616

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  144 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to live and raise a family. Accessible to city via expressway or train, yet distant enough to avoid congestion. Incredible public schools and park district resources. Public service departments are great and well-funded. Friendly people, a variety of neighborhoods, and an abundance of parks. Ample dining and shopping options to satisfy your needs, and a location fairly central to the greater Chicago area's main attractions. Glenbrook South High School, the Park Center, the Glen Mall, Glenview Public Library, Walker Brothers, and the Dairy Bar, and many, many trees are highlights of this town.... Read 144 reviews

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• Population 48,150

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Probably the friendliest and most scenic Village in Illinois. Beautiful lakes & beach island. Tons of social events. Great police force, no violent crime. Elite school district. Lots of environmental preservation projects. Local government runs on a shoestring using mostly volunteers.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 1,340