6 Illinois Towns Ranked Among Best Places To Live In America

ILLINOIS – Six Chicago-area communities are rated among the Best Places to Live in America in 2025, according to a new ranking from Niche released Monday.

Now in its 11th year, the ranking from the data-driven platform Niche helps everyone from young people just starting their careers or families to retirees decide where they want to live. The report analyzes places of various sizes, including cities with populations of 100,000 or more, suburbs and neighborhoods.

In Illinois, the following towns landed among the top 100 on the list:

• Naperville (#23)
• Clarendon Hills (#25)
• Hinsdale (#29)
• Vernon Hills (#69)
• Kildeer (#97)
• Lincolnshire (#98)

Most reviewers commented on their hometown’s fantastic school systems, safety and wealth.

For example, the average home median value in Naperville, located in Dupage County, is $509,900 and the average rent is $1,852. Naperville boasts a population of 149,424.

The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

Niche said it analyzed thousands of communities to compile this year’s ranking. Community attributes considered in developing the list included the health of the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability, among others. (More on methodology.)

According to the ranking, the five best places to live in the United States are: Colonial Village, VA; Atlantic Station, GA; Chesterbrook, PA; Harbour Island, FL; City Center, CA.