The Chicago suburbs with the best downtown districts are Naperville, Evanston, Arlington Heights, and Oak Park, Illinois. Of course, not all suburbs of Chicago are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones.. We examined the 166 biggest suburbs of Chicago to find out the worst places to live. I haven't forgotten about the others. Naperville, IL is located 28 miles west of the city and is Chicago's largest suburb. Population: 24,295Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)Median Income: $32,635 (2nd lowest)Unemployment Rate: 14.6% (6th highest)Median Home Value: $72,600 (4th lowest)More on Harvey: Data|Photos. [5] The channel broadcasts primarily from studios at 1211 Avenue of the . Featured Review: Current Resident says We have lived here since 2015 (moved from La Grange) and are very happy here. There are plenty of restaurants, parks, and coffee shops but what Wilmette is known best for is its beauty. About a 48-minute drive from the city, Buffalo Grove is known as one of the best places to live in the United States. Current Resident: We have lived here since 2015 (moved from La Grange) and are very happy here. Overall a little bike ride to a friends house isnt that bad and the area is very safe. Read 16 reviews. Population: 17,148Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 3)Median Income: $224,185Unemployment Rate: 2.2%Poverty Rate: 1.6%More on Hinsdale: Real Estate|Data|Photos. Rounding out the ten worst Chicago suburbs to call home is Burnham. My children received an excellent education. Read 23 reviews. It's the perfect Chicago suburb for families, and if you have young kids, you'll definitely fit in here. Not to mention, there are a number of shopping and dining options at The Glen Town Center Mall. It served as the state capital of Illinois from 1819 until 1839, when the seat of state government moved to Springfield. This left us with a grand total of 166 suburbs to evaluate around Chicago. Offering one of the best views in town, the Sky-Line Club sits atop the Old Republic Building, which HAS to be a Star Wars reference. Other North Shore neighborhoods nearby include Glencoe, Winnetka, and Highland Park. Detroit Suburbs, the vote-rich counties of Oakland and . 48 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. Considering a move to the suburbs of Chicago? Population: 9,344Percent Republican: 72.7%$ Republican Amount Per Capita: $29.8# Republican Contributions Per Capita: 0.02More on Harrisburg:Photos |Data, Population: 6,239Percent Republican: 72.4%$ Republican Amount Per Capita: $13.55# Republican Contributions Per Capita: 0.14More on Metropolis:Photos |Data. The sprawling west suburb spans both DuPage and Will County. And remember, there are some good places to live around Chicago too. In the Chicago metro area, 36.62% of all adults have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. Likewise, the drive time from Glenview to downtown Chicago is just about 26 minutes. The Political Climate in Chicago, IL is Strongly liberal. That left us with 330 cities and towns. 2020 Chicago magazine / A Chicago Tribune Media Group website, Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article. Without the Chicagoland area, Illinois would have fewer people than Connecticut. And only 2.83% are out of work. I would add Berwyn to the list of suburbs to consider. It is the county seat of Edgar County. 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! With highly-rated public schools and very low crime rates, its an amazing Chicago suburb for families. #18 Best Suburbs to Live in Chicago Area. Likewise, the city of Park Ridge is safe and has very good public and private schools. On the other hand, it is very expensive to live here. Lots of local chefs have recently set down roots in Mount Prospect, fueling an epicurean landscape thats drawing people from in and around the greater Chicago area. Ranked among our hot towns to watch, Mount Prospect is a community on the move. Individual Campaign Contributions in Cleveland, OH. Lots of schools - public. Oprah Winfrey lived in Chicago from 1983 until her talk show ended in 2011. Nearby towns include Des Plaines, Morton Grove, and Skokie, Illinois. Most of the residents have done undergraduate and master's degrees hence Niche gives it an A- as far as employability is concerned. What is the best part of Naperville to live in? 1. Need a highly recommended painter in Naperville or any of the surrounding west suburbs? Together, this creates a cool, laid back vibe many city families love, with diverse housing options and top-ranked public schools. Bucktown still knows how to have a good time. The town is a pleasant place to ride bikes and visit local shops, the library, grocery, pharmacy, the village restaurant, which are all run by friendly locals. Virginia Beach . Like Lansing, Lemont has a very high concentration of active, blue-leaning votersand tons of young professionals who lend a trendy, progressive vibe to the community. Waterways line the town and make Milton known for canoeing and other water sports. Not only that, but this is the worst unemployed suburb you can live in if you choose to live near Chicago. Image from the New Trier Township Republican Organization's Facebook page. Mount Carmel is also the home of Wabash Valley College, part of the Community College System of Eastern Illinois. Before you make a decision, take note of the 10 safest cities in Illinois. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from worst to best. Mount Carmel is a city in and the county seat of Wabash County, Illinois, United States. I wouldn't change it for anything! Miami . Featured Review: Current Resident says We live in a central location to go many places, however, we have a lively small downtown in Zion and there is usually something going on or a place for you to go.Though, parts of Zion can be. My family moved for a larger house with more space and a good school, this area has both. Population: 13,550Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)Median Income: $196,638Unemployment Rate: 2.8%Poverty Rate: 2.3%More on Western Springs: Real Estate|Data|Photos. A village in New Trier Township in Cook County, Wilmette is arguably the premier northern suburb in a group of tremendous communities. In the state's Republican primary on Tuesday, Mitt Romney should . And in the world of worst rankings, Lake Station beat the competition pretty handily thanks to scoring in the bottom 15% in three major categories. The schools are extraordinary, teachers top of their game and school resources phenomenal. The food is fantastic, the neighborhood is friendly, and the rent is really reasonable here. You see the library, the Centennial Beach, the Moser Tower, and so much more! In fact, it is the third-largest city in the state of Illinois as of 2022 right after nearby Aurora. The area is gorgeous, the people are friendly, the schools are great. Not to mention, real estate there is quite affordable compared to other popular affluent suburbs nearby. Orange County is very conservative and is in suburban LA. Researchers have tracked the way Democrats have dominated in cities since the '90s. Sky-Line Club. Clarendon Hills is an extremely well run town. Rest your feet when you can. It ranks as the 8th worst burb for 2018. Mesa, Arizona 2. Check out the top ten priciest Chicago houses for sale of all time. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Atlanta . richest Chicago suburbs. 4) Climate change is an immediate . And finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index the "Best Suburb near Chicago." While more expensive than average across the US, Napervilles cost of living is actually 25% lower than the city of Chicago, Illinois. I have spent many summers nannying various kids in the neighborhood and can tell there are many young families moving from the city into the suburbs and building new, very nice homes. Located along the banks of the DuPage River, its truly a local gem in the west Chicagoland suburbs. 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. Some people would prefer to live in the cities and towns that surround Chicago. See how your county voted . 56 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars. Everyone here says hello and knows one another. Population: 4,121Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)Median Income: $46,382 (10th lowest)Unemployment Rate: 9.6% (23rd highest)Median Home Value: $101,300 (12th lowest)More on Burnham: Data|Photos. Crime rates are extremely low and the educational system is way above average. 72 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars. Visit our Hinsdale location page to get a free quote instantly. #24 Best Suburbs to Live in Chicago Area. The area is. Former Resident: There is a nice sense of community in Glencoe. Here, young millennial families abound and the foodie scene is booming. Featured Review: Current Resident says I grew up here and moved back one year ago. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. A solid 2.99% of people lack insurance, good for 34th in the area. Thanks so much for any recommendations! 20 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars. Nearby west side Chicago neighborhoods include Forest Park, River Forest, Cicero, and Riverside, Illinois. . A forward thinking good vibes community is what were aiming for if that exists in the burbs since thats the type of community we will best fit in with. The single most conservative precinct in the city can be found in West Ridge, a northern-border neighborhood that has a large concentration of Orthodox Jews. Well this has been one heck of a couple of years for the Republican Party. Compared to the nation as a whole, Chicago leans more democratic. I wouldn't change it for anything! Additionally, this suburban Chicago neighborhood list factors in family-friendliness, population growth, safety, household income, affordability, and access to amenities. Feel free to check out some more reading about Illinois: Western Springs is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Chicago area. The village is approximately a 37-minute drive from Chicago and has a beautiful historic downtown district. We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 166 in each category, where 1 was the "worst". Ford Heights is about 23.1 miles to downtown. We're lookin' at you, Western Springs. Open in Google Maps. There are always different events in the community that are appropriate for every age group. Population: 11,952Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 2)Median Income: $48,585 (15th lowest)Unemployment Rate: 16.5% (3rd highest)Median Home Value: $86,100 (9th lowest)More on Lake Station: Welcome to Dixmoor. Hinsdale, Illinois is located 20 miles west of the city and is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Chicago. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Politics, Politics & City Life, Writers - Whet Moser. Overall, it's a nice place to live, with good opportunities for students and children. And a glimpse into the power of daily (sometimes hourly) media alerts, updates, and news flashes. Olney is a city in Richland County, Illinois, United States. Recently trending neighborhoods located near Hinsdale include Western Springs, La Grange Park, and Brookfield, Illinois. Subscribe for free today! Gary has the distinction of being a Chicago suburb. You won't find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Winnetka and the schools are some of the best around. Never in my life time have I see anything like it given thats a relatively short lifetime, but whos counting? Specifically, which cities have the highest number of conservative voters in the Prairie State? Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality of life index. My most favorite place to be is of-course downtown and walking the. Senior: IMSA is a fantastic school for students who want to take their education to the next level. Now, let's look at the top 10 suburbs sprinkled across Chicago. 42. While, its downtown may be a bit lacking compared to bigger town such as Naperville, it is cute and charming in its own way. Paris is a city in Paris Township, Edgar County, Illinois, 165 miles south of Chicago and 90 miles west of Indianapolis. Homes average more than $623,400 each. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Moreover, the Naperville Riverwalk is a focal point of the community and a top attraction for families in the area. Located on Lake Michigan, it borders Chicagos city limits and sits just north of Rogers Park. Of these, young conservative Catalina Lauf is the most recognized candidate, speaking at the 2020 . Featured Review: Senior says IMSA is a fantastic school for students who want to take their education to the next level. How do you figure it all out? In minutes online, you can get a quote & book the perfect local painting crew for your job. We analyzed over 165 places around Chicago to identify the most in demand places to live. Even FiveThirtyEight couldn't resist joining in: In December, Galen Druke and I showed how America's cities and . Some of these might be different in the urban core, but I'm looking at the metro area as a whole. Visit Website. And, it's only 24.3 miles to downtown, which is a good thing. Featured Review: Former Resident says Wilmette, Illinois is a wonderful place to grow up and raise a family. The hotly contested 6th District covers some of the most conservative Chicago suburbs, and the district's new congressional map has led to the state's only primary contest between two incumbent Democrats, the two-term congressional. Three Metra train stops, which is terrific, Most towns on the North Shore Line only have one. Nov 6, 2020, 9:50am PST. ), where 68 percent of 3rd Precinct voters opted for Romney in 2012. Elmhurst is known as one of the best U.S. towns for families with highly-rated public schools and relatively low crime rates. 42. Pictures: Most conservative cities in America. To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what cities have the least amount of those things. And while you won't necessarily find them on the worst places to live in Illinois lists, these ten places are a little too far downwind of Chicago in terms of quality of life.Here are the 10 worst suburbs around Chicago for 2022:Lake StationDixmoorEast ChicagoFord HeightsGaryHarveyChicago HeightsRobbinsSouth Chicago HeightsBurnham. 10. How Much Does it Cost to Paint a House in Dallas? They also have newer infrastructure (electric, sewage, roads). Philadelphia . My children received. Current Resident: I love where I live. The town is a pleasant place to ride bikes and visit local shops, the library, grocery, pharmacy, the village restaurant, which are all run by friendly locals. Located at the confluence of the Wabash, Patoka, and White Rivers, Mount Carmel borders both Gibson and Knox counties of Indiana. Editors Note: We updated this article for 2019. Evanston, IL is a North Shore suburb located 12 miles north of Chicago. 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