This Chicago Suburb Is The Best City To Live In America, According To New Ranking

ILLINOIS — Naperville is No. 1 among the Best Cities to Live in America in 2024, according to a new ranking from Niche released Tuesday. The west suburb came in 24th overall on the organization's list of Best Places to Live in America, which also includes neighborhoods, towns and other communities.

The Best Places list, now in its 10th year, is intended to help everyone from young professionals to retirees decide where they want to live. Data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

Niche analyzed 230 cities and more than 18,000 places 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.

The only Illinois city to crack the top 100 on the Best Cities to Live in America ranking other than Naperville is Chicago, which came in 76th.

Places in Illinois named in the top 100 of the Best Places to Live in America ranking are:

• Naperville, ranked 24th
• Clarendon Hills, ranked 29th
• Long Grove, ranked 36th
• Hinsdale, ranked 38th
• Buffalo Grove, ranked 53rd
• Vernon Hills, ranked 65th
• Kildeer, ranked 76th
• Evanston, ranked 77th
• Chicago — Loop, ranked 81st
• Northbrook, ranked 88th
• Chicago — West Loop, ranked 97th

This year marks the first time Naperville was named the best city, with The Woodlands, Texas; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Arlington, Virginia; and Plano, Texas, rounding out the top five.

The five best places to live, according to the ranking, are, respectively, Colonial Village, Virginia, a Washington, D.C., neighborhood; Carmel, Indiana; Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania; Uptown Tampa, Florida; and Cinco Ranch, Texas.

Niche is an online company used by millions of people to find schools and places to live.