Planning to move to the Midwest? Illinois can be your next home state!
You may know it as the Land of Lincoln or Prairie State. Bordering the Mississippi River and Indiana, this state boasts robust cities and lush countryside. Its communities offer countless food shops, entertainment venues, and outdoor recreation places. And it overall has a resilient economy - the 5th largest state in the USA by GDP.
When choosing which place to move to, these factors come into consideration: education setting, housing costs, living standards, crime rates, amenities, and the job market.
Chicago is severely congested and costly to live in. But fortunately, Illinois has several towns that provide convenience and economic resilience. These suburbs offer affordable housing and competitive amenities for both families and individuals.
Find your next home in the robust, prosperous suburbs in the Land of Lincoln!
Best Places To Live In Illinois
Here are my top picks in Illinois communities:
Clarendon Hills
This place, 22 miles west of Downtown Chicago, offers charming homes on average at $600,000. And it boasts a lively neighborhood and robust educational system.
It was once called the Daisy Fields from many windy and curvy roads that were inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted.
June is a month of festivities where residents and local businesses celebrate the Daisy Days. The most memorable of these days’ events is the Daisy Dash, a 5K run to benefit local charities.
And it also has eight parks with tons of engaging activities for families and individuals!
And no need to worry about educational prospects! Greatschools.org has rated 3 of the district schools as above average.
And transport-wise, you can travel hassle-free with a Metra that takes you downtown Chicago.
Western Springs
Are you a history buff? You’ll love this town located around 18 miles west of downtown Chicago.
It houses the Thomas Ford Memorial Library and the Theatre of Western Springs that offers classes and summer camps and hosts many local performances. In July 1962, the District Council made the first telephone call via a new Telstar satellite to the mayor of Western Springs.
While this town is fairly small with a population of under 13,000, housing is affordable at about $744,000.
Transportation is also easy, with a Metra that takes you to the city. And if you have your own vehicle, you can use the Tri-State Tollway close by.
In 2007, Western Springs was listed second in a list of the 50 best places to raise children, based on school test scores, cost of living, activities, and criminal risk.
Oak Park
Are you enthusiastic about architecture, literature, or recreation? Oak Park would be a great choice!
Located about 8 miles west of downtown Chicago, house prices around here average at $425K, with a variety of home styles including Victorian, Queen Anne, Craftsman, and Prairie School.
It has three historic districts including the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Frank Lloyd Wright has spent 20 years of his first career in Oak Park. You can find more of his homes here than anywhere in the world.
This town was also home to Ernest Hemingway. He went to Oak Park and River Forest High School and worked as a student writer in the school paper.
Oak Park locals also enjoy outdoor pools, an ice rink, and the conservatory.
And if you want to go to a street filled with the best restaurants, places to hang out, theatres, shops, and galleries, downtown Oak Park is the place to be!
Transportation to the city is very quick as you are right outside of the city's west borderline.
You can take the CTA blue and green lines, and the Metra. You can also take advantage of the Eisenhower Expressway.
Wheaton
Wheaton, about 30 miles west of downtown Chicago, is one of the top 25 top-earning towns with a family income median of $113,517.
The average home price here is only around $385,000!
It is a haven of church life and business, especially hosting the Wheaton College, a Christian liberal arts college, and the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Wheaton is acclaimed for having the Best Public Library and park district that consists of 52 parks on more than 800 acres. Some of the places to explore there are Lincoln Marsh Natural Area and Cosley Zoo.
And if you are a golfer, you do not want to miss a 27-hole Arrowhead Golf Club. It is home to the oldest 18-hole course in the country and still hosts many amateur golf championships.
Elmhurst
Lively is what Elmhurst residents call their town.
It is located about 18 miles west of downtown Chicago with an average home price of $475,000.
Elmhurst is home to an award-winning park district that consists of many parks, trails, playgrounds, and athletic facilities.
One of the parks, Wilder Park, is home to Elmhurst Art Museum that has been named the best suburban art museum in Chicago. Just a few steps away you can find the McCormick House - which is a single-family house designed by Mies van der Rohe. Other very popular places here are the Elmhurst Museum, Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, GreenMan Theatre Troupe, Elmhurst Choral Union, and Elmhurst Children’s Theatre.
Elmhurst's downtown area boasts many fine restaurants, shops, and movie theatres.
If you’re into parties, you can enjoy the annual Rock the Block Party or Elmhurst’s St. Patrick Day Parades. Since 1908, Elmhurst hosts the third-largest St. Patrick’s festivity in the Chicago metropolitan area.
During summer and holidays, you will find a free Elmhurst Express Trolley that runs between downtown Elmhurst and surrounding businesses. You can also access the Tri-State Tollway and the Eisenhower Express. Plus you can go to downtown Chicago with a convenient Metra station.
Mount Prospect
Looking for a budget-friendly neighborhood? Go to Mount Prospect!
Just 24 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, this place is also one of the more affordable options with an average home price of $360,000.
It has been once named as one of the “Top 50 Places to Live” in the US by Money Magazine.
Often overshadowed by the Arlington Heights/Schaumburg area, Mount Prospect is a very attractive prospect community. Residents enjoy lots of outdoor facilities and activities for its residents, such as 4 park districts, 2 golf courses, a miniature golf course, outdoor skating rinks, fields, courts, and many more!
Enjoy colorful landscaping and old charming lamp posts in the newly renovated downtown area. They also have dozens of houses, restaurants, and entertainment spots.
Party is also a prominent word here. Every year, the town hosts the Mount Prospect Downtown Block Party.
Getting to the city is just one Metra ride away or through the Pace bus.
And for families, they can enroll their kids in Mount Prospect’s three award-winning school districts.
Evanston
Evanston is just about 14 miles north of downtown Chicago. This northern Chicago suburb sits along the shores of Lake Michigan. Get a good deal on outskirts properties while properties on the lake fetch multiple million dollars of value.
Commuting to the city is very fast and convenient with the CTA’s purple line, Pace bus, 3 Metra stations, and the local bus routes.
Residential architecture is diverse in styles from historic mansions to typical tree-lined blocks of single-family ranches, newly built highrises, and townhomes close to the center with all the local shops and restaurants.
For film fans, you can feast your eyes on Evanston’s numerous film locations in movies such as Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, Dennis the Menace, and Nothing in Common.
Aside from Northwestern University, other fun places to visit are Halim Time & Glass Museum, Grasse Point Lighthouse, and the Block Museum of Art.
Buffalo Grove
Looking for a community with robust job opportunities and diverse sports events? Buffalo Grove could be your next home!
It is uniquely located in both Cook and Lake Counties of Illinois and is about 33 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Homes here, on average, cost $372,000.
It is now home to more than 40,000 residents, an upswing of 4.1% over the past years.
Businesses here employ 20,000 workers in 10 million square feet of commercial and industrial space. Transportation is very easy with a Metra station.
For history buffs, Buffalo Grove runs the Raupp Museum that chronicles the history of the town and the Community Arts Center.
Events are also festive and numerous here with around 10 events every year. The most popular of these are Buffalo Grove Days.
Sports fans also love the town’s huge collection of parks and natural spaces that serviced many Buffalo native national championships.
And for foodies, two of the local favorite places are Long Grove Confectionery and Prairie Krafts Brewery.
Naperville
Looking for an affordable city in Illinois? Go to Naperville.
About 35 miles west of downtown Chicago, it has an average home price of $465,000,
Naperville became a very fast-growing community due to the construction of two tollways that take you directly from the city to Downtown Chicago. It is a city in DuPage and Will counties and is the fourth most populated city in Illinois.
It has a booming business environment, complete with a Metra and Amtrak station. Many corporations put their bases here. And it provides a competitive job market for residents.
The heart of Naperville features a beautiful nearly 2-mile long riverwalk along the DuPage River.
During the weekends, downtown Naperville is a place to be, with the DuPage Children’s Museum, an award-winning Naperville Public Library, Centennial Park, and the beach!
A fan of history? There’s the Naperville Historic District, a set of 613 properties in the older eastern section and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Barrington
I have to say, I am super biased here as I have moved to North Barrington in early 2020. It is simply the best community for me! To be honest with you, there is nothing bad I can say about this community.
It is about 35 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, with an average home price of $567,000.
The school district is phenomenal with its 11 National Blue Ribbon Awards and schools.
We have a beautiful historic residential area that surrounds our little downtown. Downtown you can find many great local restaurants and hangout spots. One of my favorites is Chessie’s Restaurant where you can dine in an authentic old train car, right by the railway. It is located in the Ice House Mall - which is a 1904 building built to store ice delivered by the train before the ice made it to the local families.
On the outskirts of Barrington, you will typically see bigger properties with acres of land surrounded by horse farms and golf courses.
If you’re a nature lover, Barrington will be your happy place. For starters, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Barrington as a Tree City in the USA every year since 1986. It is also just a few miles away from the Fox River. And if you love the water as we do, you can enjoy boating without making a trip to Lake Michigan.
If you are looking for outstanding schools, diversity reflective of the larger Chicago area, and a buzzing nightlife, Barrington would be an excellent choice to move into.
Conclusion
Whether you love the convenience of city life or relish the quiet, lush countryside, the Land of Lincoln has many communities for you to choose from.
Illinois boasts high economic growth. It has many thriving industries such as agriculture, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, food processing, energy, and logistics. As the 5th biggest GDP contributor in America, you can find a haven here.
It’s a paradise for history buffs, sports fans, outdoor enthusiasts, and foodies. Nestled in America’s heartland, Illinois is a great place to make your home.
Interested to move into Illinois? Get a free consultation with me here.
