North Shore Towns Take Trio Of Spots In Rankings Of Top 30 'Safest And Richest' Cities

KENILWORTH, IL — A trio of North Shore towns is among four Illinois villages to make a ranking of the 30 safest and richest cities in the United States. Each of the four Cook County suburbs was recognized for its high incomes, low crime rates and overall quality of life — communities that combine wealth and safety.

Kenilworth was ranked second, Winnetka ranked fifth and Wilmette was ranked 17th in the analysis from GoBankingRates, which determined Western Springs to be the safest, richest (or the richest, safest) city in the nation.

The Hawaii-based financial information website focused on median household income, crime rates, home values and cost of living to develop its ranking.

Its methodology assigned equal weight to five factors — property crime per 1,000 residents, violent crime per 1,000 residents, total cost of living, average household income and the Areavibes livability index.

Kenilworth, a village that often is excluded from such rankings due to only having about 2,500 residents, had a relatively low "livability" score and high cost of living. However, its high levels of wealth and nonexistent violent crime made up for it and led to its No. 2 ranking.

The median household income in Kenilworth is $437,822, the average home value is $1.77 million, and the total annual cost of living is more than $151,000.

In Winnetka, residents enjoy a median household income of $458,988. The crime rate is notably higher than Kenilworth’s, but the town still boasts an impressive safety record.

The average home value in Winnetka is $1.62 million, while the annual cost of living is about $141,000.

Wilmette, the largest of the three North Shore towns, matched Winnetka with a livability score of 83. Kenilworth received an 82, and anything under 80 was eliminated from consideration.

With a median household income of just under $274,000, Wilmette offers a slightly more affordable — while still incredibly affluent — lifestyle compared to some of its neighbors. Homes in Wilmette average around $909,000, and the annual cost of living is approximately $90,000.

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The rankings relied on data from the U.S. Census, FBI crime statistics and the Zillow home value index for single-family homes as of June 2024.

Only three other states had more communities on the list of the 30 richest and safest places — New Jersey, which had six towns on the list, and California and Massachusetts, which each had seven.

Related: Winnetka Named Ideal Suburb In Illinois, Second Best 'Small Town' In U.S.