Skokie Among Top 250 Places To Live In U.S.

SKOKIE, IL — Skokie ranked in the top 250 places to live in the U.S., according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report that looks at value, desirability, job markets and the quality of life in U.S. cities.

Skokie ranked at 230 on the list with a score of 5.8 out of 10. The village is ranked ninth for best places to live in Illinois.

Those in Illinois named to the Best Places to Live In the U.S. in 2025-26 are:

• Arlington Heights has been ranked as the best place in Illinois to live and the 56th best place to live in the U.S.
• Buffalo Grove follows, coming in at No. 63 on the U.S. News & World Report list.
• Other Illinois towns to make the list, include: Naperville at 76, Palatine at 80, Elgin at 122, Schaumburg at 141, Bloomington at 168, Bolingbrook at 210, Skokie at 230 and Des Plaines at 240.

U.S. News said measures were weighted in part based on a public survey of thousands of individuals throughout the country to find what qualities they consider important in a place to live. The news outlet also used its own internal research data, as well as data from U.S. agencies, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“While quality of life remains the top priority for many Americans – and has the heaviest weight in
determining the Best Places to Live rankings – U.S. News slightly adjusted its weights to increase priority for a location’s job market amid heightened economic uncertainty,” Giovanetti said.

The 859 cities analyzed for the 2025-2026 were then ranked within state-specific rankings.

“This year’s release celebrates the top 250 places that meet consumer needs best, but also offers the ability to view top-ranked cities in states of their choice,” added Giovanetti.

Read more: 10 Illinois Towns Ranked Among Best Places To Live By U.S. News