While the city of Chicago is Illinois’ gem, many people actually move out of this city due to over congestion and high crime rates.
One of the biggest draws of Illinois real estate is its lush countryside. Small towns are what mostly constitutes the “Midwest nice”. Illinois has many charming small towns. These small towns offer tight-knit communities, breathtaking nature, and safer spaces.
What makes small towns appealing?
Small town living has always had its appeal. And with the remote work revolution, small towns are becoming more popular than ever. A recent Gallup poll showed that nearly half of US adults prefer to live in small towns.
The appeal of small towns comes from the search for more space for home offices, homeschooling, and an overall need for folks to get more space for their money. According to Realtor.com, home shoppers now prefer larger homes with more outdoor space in areas that offer outdoor activities.
When choosing which place to move to, these factors come into consideration: affordability, education, safety, local economy, amenities, and the job market.
Now let’s get down to business.
Best Small Towns to Live in Illinois
As you plan to move to smaller communities with more room for you and your family, I will share with you the best of Illinois’ small towns. Note that I am not steering you towards any specific neighborhood, per se, I am just collating the findings and research from notable sites such as Realtor, Forbes, and CNBC.
1. Galena
Named after the mineral that the Native Americans mined in the area hundreds of years ago, Galena is a thriving scenic town. It is home to 3,349 people with a median income of $57,851 and a median home price of $255,000. Many travel experts and celebrities describe this Northwestern Illinois town as the best place to visit in the Midwest.
It’s a haven for history buffs. Inside the Galena Historic District, there are more than eight hundred properties that are all included in the National Register of Historic Places. For instance, there are the homes of former president Ulysses S. Grant and congressman Washburne; the Old Market House State Historic Site; and the DeSoto House Hotel where Presidents Lincoln and Douglas gave speeches.
Galena is also bustling with life. Residents enjoy wineries, breweries, culinary schools, galleries, ghost tours, snowboarding, biking, hiking, kayaking, and riding hot air balloons.
All in all, this is an excellent small town to live, work and raise your families.
2. Woodstock
Want to experience Hollywood without going to California? Look no further than Woodstock. This small town served as the setting for many iconic films such as Groundhog Day and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Groundhog Day has even earned its place in the town with the unique town holiday and Woodstock’s own honorary groundhog, Woodstock Willie.
Woodstock has a thriving community that offers a warm welcome towards newcomers. It also has a strong public school district. And families enjoy its many entertaining amenities such as the town square that holds the Woodstock Opera House and the Old McHenry County Courthouse, local farms and orchids for fresh produce, and diverse restaurants of world cuisines.
Woodstock is beautiful throughout the year but the colors that come with fall are unlike any other. Another exciting time for visitors and locals is the Victorian Christmas Celebration. Here the entire town is alight with thousands of Christmas lights, starting Thanksgiving weekend.
If you want to move to this iconic town, prepare for the median home price of around $300,000.
3. Fulton
If you are interested in Dutch culture, you can find the Netherlands in Illinois (sort of). Named after the inventor of the steamboat, Robert Fulton. Fulton is a community of Dutch descent. The 3,455 residents here love to show their unique heritage.
The centerpiece of the town is the Dutch windmill, made in the Netherlands called De Immigrant, on November 19, 1999. It grinds wheat, buckwheat, cornmeal, and rye. Locals enjoy the first weekend of May when they celebrate the Dutch Days Festival - full of arts and crafts, music, food, dancing, windmill tours, Dutch cultural displays, and a parade. Other recreational activities here are walking through Heritage Canyon, which is home to pioneer-era structures, and boating and fishing along the Mississippi River.
Want to move to this lovely Dutch town? The median home price here is $127,000.
4. Nauvoo
Nauvoo is another small town rich in history, especially significant in Mormon history. It boasts some of the best historic sites in America such as the Joseph Smith Homestead, the Nauvoo House, the Red Brick Store, and the Smith Family Cemetery.
The indigenous tribes first started Nauvoo. The Sauk and Fox Native American Tribes who were forced from their eastern homelands came to the Mississippi Valley and began making many permanent settlements near where Nauvoo is today. The early European explorers and army surveyors started Nauvoo’s precursor towns, Venus and Commerce in the 1820s and 1830s. Joseph Smith and the early Mormons in 1839 drained the swamps, built and named Nauvoo. After them, The Icarians, a group of mostly middle-class French idealists came in the 1850s. Lastly, German-speaking pioneers brought stability and progress to Nauvoo.
This historic small town is home to 990 residents with a median household income of $53,370 and a median home price of $164,400.
5. Mount Carroll
If you love architecture, art, and culture, you will enjoy moving to the rugged beauty of Mount Caroll. Mount Carroll is one of the coldest places in all of Illinois due to its elevation and location. Winters here go as low as negative 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This charming small town is bikeable and walkable.
Also known as the "New England of the Midwest", It is home to 1500 people which includes great artists and theatre performers. Residents take care of the rich history here, presenting a genuine old-time country feel.
Here you can enjoy sites such as the canvas mural, Rural Scene Wakarusa Valley that was painted with oils by Irene Bianucci in 1941, and the Timber Lake Playhouse.
If you want to move here, housing is quite affordable with the median home price of $95,000.
6. Elsah
Elsah is the quintessential small town with just 600 residents and a median home price of $228,900. It’s a historic neighborhood that earned the name - the “village where time stood still.” This town is located on the western border of the state, along the Mississippi and about a 4.5-hour drive from Chicago.
The entire town holds immense historical significance that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Homes here are beautiful stone and wooden houses from the early 19th century. Four of the original taverns in the town can be found on LaSalle Street, along with all but one building that was constructed before 1861.
Elsah is also popular for its natural scenery. Many visit to ride the Bike Trail. Or catch a glimpse of America’s national bird, the bald eagle. During the late summer and early fall months, residents enjoy incredible views of the town before the cold sets in.
7. Greenville
Old means gold and Greenville has proved to be a great community for over two centuries. Greenville is renowned as "a town for all seasons". Located about 45 minutes east of the Mississippi River & downtown St. Louis on Interstate 70. Its 6,400 residents enjoy metropolitan amenities and pollution-free living.
The City of Greenville is also a hub for history buffs and party lovers. There are museums such as the Richard Brock Museum, the American Farm Heritage Museum, the Armed Forces Museum, and the Demoulin Museum. Students and historians also love the Greenville Public Library. Downtown, you will find the large stone memorial where Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln wrote their presidential speeches in 1858. For those looking for fun and excitement, there’s the Agape Music Festival and the World Powered Parachute championship.
8. Elmhurst
A recent WalletHub study ranked Elmhurst at 45th in the best 100 small cities to live in America. This small town in DuPage County enjoys this honor because of its excellent educational system, low unemployment rate, and lush parklands. It is home to over 45,000 residents with an average household income of $96,000 and median home prices at $387,500.
The Elmhurst community is very dynamic and lively. Beloved American sweets such as Sunshine Biscuits and Famous Amos cookies come from this town. Residents also enjoy the festive parades and other celebrations. The most popular parades here are the Memorial Parade and St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
9. Wheaton
Another popular small town within driving distance of Chicago is Wheaton. It offers proximity to the Chicago Metropolitan area and offers a close-knit, warm community at the same time. Home to a population of 53,585 residents with median home sales at $338,500.
Wheaton is under half the size of Springfield but boasts a lot of growth and opportunities for workers and families. You will find here some of the top-ranking public schools in America, lots of outdoor parks, and a booming job market. Case in point, Wheaton’s unemployment rate sits at only 5.4% and residents enjoy the 52 parks across 829 acres of space.
10. Lebanon
Looking for an affordable place with impeccable education? You will love the cute little town of Lebanon. This is a popular college town with a median home price of $203,800. Illinois’ oldest college is here - McKendree University.
Founded in 1814, Lebanon is home to 4000 residents who enjoy the metropolitan conveniences and the pleasures of small-town life. Aside from the distinguished campuses, you can enjoy the rich history and family-friendly amenities. You can also check out Emerald Mound, with is the preserved remains of a Native American village and its five mounds, and don’t forget the Mermaid House hotel, which author Charles Dickens mentioned visiting in 1842.
Lebanon homes come in a wide variety of architectural styles from Greek Revival, Gothic, Italian, English Country, Queen Anne, Georgian and Southern Colonial.
Conclusion
Chicago is one of the popular cities in the world. But its over congestion, traffic, and high crime rates cause many to move out and find better communities. And with the remote work revolution going strong, workers are imagining life beyond the metro.
Polls also show that almost half of American adults prefer small towns over big cities. Homebuyers want homes with more room for home offices and homeschooling and more outdoor spaces such as lawns, gardens, backyards, and parks.
As a homebuyer, researching the right place to move into can be a stressful process. Don’t worry, the Nex-Gen Real Estate team have you covered.
Get a free consultation with me for your real estate needs.
