2021 Most Diverse Suburbs in Cook County

Berkeley

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.73 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: Moved to Berkey a few years ago wanting to find a small quiet town outside the city but close to Metra. I absolutely love that it's a small, tree covered town minutes from the metra. I can get into downtown in 35 minutes!...Read 22 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C minus

• grade A+

• 5,116 Population

Skokie

• Town in Illinois
• Rating 4.01 out of 5  221 reviews

Current Resident: Skokie is a great place! The diversity all around you will make you learn about new cultures and different belief systems that make it feel like you’ve traveled around the world, when really you haven’t left your neighborhood. It has a rich history, being a place that many Holocaust survivors moved to after World War II. Additionally, it has great businesses, both local businesses that fill up the downtown area and chain businesses in places like Old Orchard mall. My only real complaint is that there aren’t sidewalks everywhere, and while my inner 4th-grader loves to balance on the curb, walking on the road is not as nice as a good sidewalk...Read 221 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 63,821 Population

Hillside

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.79 out of 5  33 reviews

Current Resident: I liked the small community Hillside provides, with the local shopping district and the humble neighborhood residents.Read 33 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C minus

• grade A+

• 8,080 Population

Chicago Heights

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.17 out of 5  109 reviews

Current Resident: Got a beautiful home at a great price! Plenty of diamonds in the rough here and banks have grants depending on the area you buy. It's got easy access to many nearby towns with tons of amenities and the local businesses here are great! The ice cream place Zarlengos is fantastic. The people are kind and most keep their homes nice...There are parts of the heights that are a bit poorer but everyone works really hard to make it a good town. Easy to get a hold of our local officials as well. I see lots of opportunity here!Lots of nice neighborhoods by Vollmer and Joe Burr and only getting better!Read 109 Reviews

• grade C+

• grade C

• grade A+

• 29,856 Population

Wheeling

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.63 out of 5  147 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Wheeling for over 30 years and seen the community grow. I came from the north side of Chicago have seen the park districts grow the parks are newly remodeled and very very clean. The village of Wheeling is very highly patrolled by the police officers a great fire department and public works. Neighbors are friendly and helpful. Great shopping and restaurants in the area. Great public transportation and trains. Excellent public schools. Good walking and bicycle pass. New public library Indian trails public library. During the winter sidewalks are clean by the village of Wheeling public works. Streets and sidewalks during the winter are always clean...Read 147 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• grade A+

• 38,499 Population

Lansing

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.64 out of 5  105 reviews

Current Resident: Lansing has an amicable atmosphere and everyone for the most part is friendly. We support each other and overall we have a nice safe community. The schools around here give us the necessary tools to move on into adulthood. Very rarely does anything criminal happen. Neighbors leave their doors open, kids play in the streets, and people walk their pets at night. Whenever I go to the park I see happy families. Lansing has unity which I've seen when the protests started. People follow the rules and stay in their houses because of the virus. I feel at peace in Lansing. The only thing that I would change is to increase funding to the schools programs since some clubs suffer because of financial problems. That or more sidewalks and pothole covers but that is because I am a serious bike rider. My parents picked Lansing because they knew that the people and the location were out of the city and therefore safer for us kids to flourish in without many worries or troubles. I am glad to live here...Read 105 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• grade A+

• 27,904 Population

Blue Island

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.45 out of 5  58 reviews

Current Resident: This town is diverse of cultures and people, great suburb to raise kids as I have grown up here. I love everything about this town except for the potholes! Great youth programs, public library, local food places and bars. Located in the Midwest not far from Chicago it is close to the city for tourist attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, all the museums and zoos, as well as beaches...Read 58 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• grade A+

• 22,611 Population

South Chicago Heights

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 2.6 out of 5  5 reviews

• grade C

• grade C

• grade A+

• 4,076 Population

Hoffman Estates

• Town in Illinois
• Rating 3.94 out of 5  204 reviews

Current Resident: I’ve was born and raised in Hoffman Estates and still live here for college. My experience with the public schools have been very positive with the school body was typically very diverse. Also a lot of opportunities for execrated/honors/AP classes as well as many extracurriculars. The down side is that many restaurants around are chains, but not much in terms of entertainment...Read 204 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• grade A+

• 50,841 Population

Alsip

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.82 out of 5  51 reviews

Current Resident: Alsip has been the nicest little town in the suburbs of Chicago I've got to live in. I moved there in the summer of 2018 when I was only 17. It's proximity to various schools (whether it was a High School, Middle School or a College) is great for students who cannot afford a DownTown living space. It is only 30 minutes away from Chicago's center, which is a big plus for commuters for work or studying. Alsip is also about 10 minutes away from a train station in case some people cannot drive themselves to work and just need to take a train. Alsip is a nice town to live in for a family with kids, students or elders!...Read 51 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade A+

• 19,022 Population

Streamwood

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.68 out of 5  104 reviews

Current Resident: Streamwood is an overall average city with a pretty calm lifestyle. There are an average amount of opportunities, although the schools lack a good education and environment. The schools should be improved, but other than that it's a pretty okay place to live. I've lived here all my life and felt like I belong. It's a welcoming community with mostly friendly people and affordable housing...Read 104 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade A+

• 39,809 Population

Evanston

• Town in Illinois
• Rating 4.11 out of 5  195 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 195 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A

• 74,587 Population

Forest Park

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 4.18 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: If you're looking for a place to take the family even if it's for ice cream, a movie in the park, summer fests, or to explore the downtown area, then this is the place to go. With so many activities the community does and provides you wouldn't want to miss it! Everyone is very friendly and looks out for one another...Read 38 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C minus

• grade A

• 13,927 Population

East Hazel Crest

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: The neighborhood is very quite and well observed by the police station that is very close. The streets are clean and well maintained by the community. Neighbors are very nice and respectful of one another and check up on one another frequently...Read 3 Reviews

• grade C+

• grade D+

• grade A

• 1,586 Population

North Riverside

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: My neighbors are friendly and their houses and yards are well maintained. In the summer it's a short walk to Polar Bear, a mom and pop ice cream stand. It's a great summer job for teens. The best feature of the neighborhood is the park. There's a hill for sledding in the winter, a bike path, a duck pond, exercise equipment, a playground, and a gazebo. There are plenty of shady spots and the grass is really nice. It's a great place for socializing, picnics, exercise, and for kids to hang out at. There's also a fantastic fall festival with fireworks!...The location of the neighborhood is pretty good. It's a short walk to the mall. and the pink line and blue line are nearby. It is near some busy streets, but it's not that noisy unless your house is very near Cermak. Riverside-Brookfield High School and Hauser Jr High are very good schools. ...I'm very happy in North Riverside.Read 22 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• grade A

• 6,646 Population

Homewood

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.9 out of 5  139 reviews

Current Resident: Homewood is simply a wonderful community! Our neighbors are from diverse backgrounds in age and interests. Everyone is friendly, making walks and events around town incredibly enjoyable. The community offers access to all of Chicago's major expressways and there is a major commuter train that is in the center of town. There are numerous top tier restaurants bringing city dining to you at home. I just can't say enough about this lovely little town...Read 139 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• grade A

• 19,112 Population

Prospect Heights

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 4 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: I currently reside in Prospect Heights because it is the perfect distance away from the chaos of the city of Chicago, but close enough that I can easily access the city whenever I would like to. There are several metra train stops scattered around, which is my preferred method of city travel, but is also a fairly priced uber/ lyft ride where there are always drivers available. The local food is predominately small business and all delicious! O'Hare Airport is also only a 15 minute drive, or one metra train stop, which avoids the city traffic too!...Read 19 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• grade A

• 16,137 Population

Midlothian

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.55 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: I really enjoy living in the township of Midlothian. The people here are extremely friendly. I have lived in this community for 16 years. I was 3 when I moved here, I went to the elementary school as a preschooler for 2 years and graduated from the high school. Needless to say I have been here for a long time. We have all the conveniences of a bigger town, Walgreens, CVS, a grocery store not a major one but more of a convenient store with almost everything you need. Lots of restaurants and because our community is a diverse one, we enjoy lots of different cuisines. We are close to a couple of communities that have more restaurants and entertainment to choose from if you are looking for more options. We are also close to downtown Chicago approx. 30 min. depending on where you are going in the downtown area. All in all Midlothian is a great place to live. I love my community. So if you are looking for great neighbors, a quite community please consider Midlothian...Read 40 Reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• grade A

• 14,595 Population

Justice

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.69 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: Great activities for kids! Safe, great police department and fire department! Easy to go for family walks!Read 13 Reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 12,800 Population

Evergreen Park

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.7 out of 5  82 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Evergreen Park my entire life and have enjoyed my experience here. I enjoyed the schools I went to, the friends I made, the tight knit community as well as being so close to the city. If I could change something though, it would definitely be the diversity. There is a lack of diversity in Evergreen Park and a prominent racial divide. I would like to see a blending of all people from different backgrounds and cultures here...Read 82 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 19,479 Population

Lincolnwood

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 4.06 out of 5  34 reviews

Current Resident: Everyone in the community is so caring and sociable. Parks and recreation is very clean, new, and accessible around the suburb. Every summer theres a carnival that almost everyone in the city attends. The township is able to get news out to community members very quickly. The neighborhood is safe. I have never felt uncomfortable in Lincolnwood. The school is really amazing. They offer a good range of classes and help k-8 students adjust to high school. Teachers and staff members at Lincoln Hall have always been very engaging with students and student families...Read 34 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A

• 12,434 Population

Rolling Meadows

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.74 out of 5  78 reviews

Current Resident: Rolling Meadows is a small town with not many things to do, but very quiet and safe for the most part. The schools in town are average; nothing special about them and the schools in nearby towns/villages are usually better. It has a high elderly population and nightlife is pretty boring which is why it's one of the top 5 most boring cities in Illinois. It's fine for raising a family, though, but nothing special...Read 78 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• grade A

• 23,219 Population

Posen

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.22 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Posen has been very diverse over the past few years and it is a friendly neighborhood. I have been a resident here for almost 14 years. There are lots of kids playing together in the summer and the neighbors are there if you need them. I grew up in this town but did not go to the public district school in posen. The schools are structered but there are better schools out there. The posen department office workers are friendly but sometimes have attitude. The fire department on the other hand are friendly as can be and very generous. THe neighborhood is quiet and settle. In the past few years, there have been some incidents of graphity. The parks were remodled but the kids do not know how to respect the parks: a parent should always attend their child when going to the park. Overall growing up here, you build new relationships with your neighbors, you can go to garage sales without be apprehensive and you can sit outside during the day in your lawn chair without a care in the world...Read 9 Reviews

• grade C+

• grade C+

• grade A

• 6,149 Population

Schaumburg

• Town in Illinois
• Rating 4.1 out of 5  211 reviews

Niche User: The library is wonderful, lakes are beautiful and overall safe town. Lots of places to shop and many within walking distances from coffee shops and small stores. Woodfield mall is huge with over three floors. Filled with many different stores, you will find what you are looking for. Try to avoid during holiday shopping because the mall is always overpacked and parking is always a hastle...Read 211 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• grade A

• 74,194 Population

Westchester

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• Rating 3.55 out of 5  51 reviews

Former Resident: Very great location, right by Interstate 290, 88, 294, Route 12, 20, 45 and route 83, and close to Ohare airport, and close to lots of food options, close to OakBrook, North Riverside, and Yorktown Mall. Lovely starter homes for younger couples, families, and empty nesters who want to live closer to Chicago. Very safe community, very quiet, family orientated. The only bad thing about Westchester is that the high school district Proviso West is not the best school out there, so if you have high school aged kids, you can enroll them in the nearby private schools such as IC Prep, Montini, Nazareth, St Joes, Proviso Math and Science Academy, Benet, and Fenwick. Very good suburb thats close to everything. 10/10...Read 51 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade C

• grade A

• 16,440 Population