Community Corner
IL Town Among 50 Best Places To Live For Families, New Ranking Says
For the second time in recent years, West Chicago has made Fortune's annual list.
ACROSS ILLINOIS — The best place in Illinois to plant roots for a lifetime is West Chicago, according to Fortune’s new ranking of the nation’s 50 Best Places to Live for Families.
In the analysis, Fortune said West Chicago, which has a population of 25,018, came in at No. 20 and is lauded for its above-average public schools, many restaurants and its overall suburban feel.
The city, which received a No. 9 ranking in 2022, has a plethora of festivals to choose from — including Blooming Fest, Food Festival and Frosty Fest — and also has two popular farms that families love to visit — Kline Creek Farm and Sonny Acres.
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Another fun fact, Fortune points out, is that the city was the first community in Illinois to be established by the railroads. Today, the West Chicago City Museum showcases the town’s railroad history.
"Nature lovers will take to West Chicago’s many green spaces," according to Fortune. Among those choices are: the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve and Reed-Keppler Park.
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Fortune said its list reflects qualities people look for when they decide where to raise families and retire.
“A great place to live not only supports families in the present but also serves them in the long term. With a growing portion of Americans caring for both children and aging parents, more people want to live where multigenerational families can thrive,” the news outlet said.
Fortune said it analyzed more than 2,000 cities and nearly 200 data categories, which included livability, financial health, resources for aging adults, education and wellness.
The cities chosen, one for each state, are sustainable for both their youngest and oldest residents and include fast-growing suburbs and edge cities that find creative ways to improve people’s well-being, Fortune said.
The top cities picked by Fortune this year as the best live for families to live include: Silver Spring, Maryland; Upper Merion, Pennsylvania; Chantilly, Virginia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Mason, Ohio.
You can read more about why West Chicago was chosen for Fortune's list here. And you can see Fortune's full list here.
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