Best suburbs of Chicago

We scored all 177 towns and communities of 10,000+ people in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area on what most people weigh when they pick a suburb: what homes cost compared with local pay, household income, poverty, commute times, education, homeownership and how many families with kids live there. Libertyville, Campton Hills and New Lenox come out on top.

top 10 upper half lower half Chicago. Dot size shows population.

The top 25

#	Place	Score	Population	Median home	Home vs income	Household income	Commute	Poverty	Miles away
1	Libertyville, IL	78	20,701	$512,000	3.1×	$165,667	25.9 min	4.2%	34
2	Campton Hills, IL	78	10,894	$547,500	2.6×	$209,134	34.1 min	2.9%	38
3	New Lenox, IL	77	28,893	$399,900	2.8×	$140,865	32.7 min	1.5%	27
4	Western Springs, IL	76	13,588	$739,400	3.2×	$230,255	31.0 min	1.3%	11
5	Oswego, IL	75	39,948	$344,500	2.8×	$123,792	31.5 min	2.6%	35
6	Pingree Grove, IL	75	12,545	$320,800	2.8×	$114,294	32.4 min	1.2%	42
7	Deerfield, IL	74	19,642	$623,400	3.4×	$181,660	27.8 min	2.8%	24
8	Lindenhurst, IL	74	14,810	$294,100	2.2×	$131,474	34.1 min	4.1%	44
9	Winfield, IL	74	10,146	$386,300	2.8×	$135,795	28.8 min	3.2%	24
10	Bartlett, IL	73	40,855	$375,700	2.8×	$133,240	29.7 min	4.2%	27
11	Algonquin, IL	73	30,824	$351,000	2.6×	$134,525	30.6 min	4.1%	40
12	Minooka, IL	73	12,899	$315,600	2.7×	$115,445	31.8 min	2.6%	41
13	Cary, IL	72	17,932	$309,800	2.7×	$113,026	28.4 min	4.8%	39
14	Plainfield, IL	71	50,043	$431,400	3.0×	$144,000	33.3 min	4.2%	32
15	St. John, IN	71	24,841	$406,300	3.1×	$131,467	31.2 min	2.1%	30
16	Grayslake, IL	71	21,140	$309,500	2.7×	$113,972	27.2 min	6.3%	39
17	Geneva, IL	71	21,138	$441,400	3.1×	$144,341	27.8 min	3.8%	33
18	Lake Zurich, IL	71	19,868	$435,300	3.2×	$135,968	27.6 min	3.4%	32
19	Manhattan, IL	71	10,943	$332,600	2.6×	$128,522	37.5 min	4.2%	33
20	South Elgin, IL	70	25,656	$339,100	2.7×	$127,203	28.2 min	6.4%	34
21	Frankfort, IL	70	21,365	$481,200	3.1×	$154,375	35.2 min	3.2%	25
22	Buffalo Grove, IL	69	42,812	$412,300	3.2×	$129,395	26.3 min	7.2%	27
23	Highland Park, IL	69	30,767	$607,300	3.6×	$168,094	27.5 min	4.2%	25
24	Lake in the Hills, IL	68	28,590	$321,900	2.7×	$117,151	32.0 min	4.1%	40
25	Channahon, IL	68	14,530	$327,900	2.7×	$119,494	30.3 min	5.9%	41

Show all 177 places

#	Place	Score	Population	Median home	Home vs income	Household income	Commute	Poverty	Miles away
26	Gurnee, IL	67	30,458	$344,300	2.9×	$119,628	27.4 min	5.2%	39
27	Hinsdale, IL	67	17,573	$1,053,700	4.2×	$250,000+	31.6 min	2.9%	13
28	Roselle, IL	65	22,756	$344,700	3.1×	$111,318	27.1 min	4.1%	23
29	Naperville, IL	64	153,114	$540,200	3.5×	$155,105	30.5 min	4.4%	25
30	Elmhurst, IL	64	46,111	$545,400	3.6×	$149,644	29.1 min	3.3%	14
31	La Grange, IL	64	15,935	$594,300	3.7×	$159,929	28.5 min	4.6%	10
32	Wauconda, IL	64	13,993	$278,600	2.5×	$111,239	31.3 min	6.2%	38
33	Romeoville, IL	63	41,281	$257,100	2.4×	$106,325	32.3 min	5.5%	26
34	Winnetka, IL	63	12,518	$1,337,800	5.4×	$250,000+	32.6 min	1.6%	19
35	Northbrook, IL	62	34,744	$652,300	4.1×	$157,782	26.8 min	4.3%	22
36	Batavia, IL	62	26,586	$387,400	3.2×	$120,056	28.9 min	5.5%	32
37	Shorewood, IL	62	18,536	$337,800	2.8×	$122,105	34.7 min	5.2%	35
38	Round Lake, IL	62	18,526	$278,600	2.5×	$111,977	31.3 min	9.0%	41
39	Crystal Lake, IL	61	42,288	$311,400	2.9×	$108,418	29.3 min	6.8%	43
40	Crown Point, IN	61	35,616	$294,800	2.9×	$101,686	29.0 min	6.8%	34
41	St. Charles, IL	61	33,594	$377,400	3.3×	$114,300	27.0 min	4.4%	33
42	Vernon Hills, IL	61	26,825	$412,300	3.4×	$121,943	26.9 min	6.1%	31
43	Homer Glen, IL	61	24,873	$418,800	3.1×	$136,678	35.8 min	4.3%	21
44	Munster, IN	61	23,504	$334,300	3.0×	$110,187	28.1 min	6.0%	22
45	Mokena, IL	61	19,897	$401,400	3.2×	$123,889	30.5 min	4.5%	23
46	Gages Lake, IL	61	10,819	$310,500	3.0×	$103,318	26.1 min	7.0%	39
47	Park Ridge, IL	60	38,463	$551,200	3.9×	$142,986	29.1 min	2.9%	15
48	Yorkville, IL	60	26,730	$335,300	3.1×	$108,513	34.0 min	3.3%	40
49	Lake Forest, IL	60	19,731	$938,300	4.0×	$235,081	31.3 min	3.5%	29
50	North Aurora, IL	60	19,406	$342,100	3.0×	$114,305	26.5 min	6.3%	34
51	Evergreen Park, IL	60	19,283	$267,500	2.8×	$95,719	32.1 min	4.0%	8
52	Barrington, IL	60	10,586	$582,500	3.9×	$147,989	30.5 min	4.6%	31
53	Glenview, IL	59	47,711	$609,600	4.3×	$143,056	27.1 min	6.0%	19
54	Mundelein, IL	59	32,680	$309,700	2.9×	$108,340	27.9 min	8.2%	35
55	Lockport, IL	59	27,822	$316,000	2.8×	$111,981	35.3 min	6.8%	25
56	Wilmette, IL	59	27,459	$810,600	4.3×	$190,662	34.6 min	3.2%	17
57	Antioch, IL	59	15,000	$306,700	2.8×	$108,899	30.4 min	7.9%	48
58	Bolingbrook, IL	58	74,803	$314,700	2.9×	$108,400	30.0 min	9.2%	24
59	Aurora, IL	57	181,505	$274,800	2.9×	$93,633	27.2 min	9.5%	32
60	Wheaton, IL	57	54,065	$455,700	3.8×	$120,008	25.7 min	5.6%	22
61	Montgomery, IL	57	21,978	$299,500	2.9×	$103,734	33.4 min	6.7%	36
62	Homewood, IL	57	18,773	$221,100	2.2×	$100,139	33.1 min	9.4%	19
63	Lemont, IL	57	18,513	$468,800	3.8×	$123,370	34.8 min	3.1%	19
64	Glen Ellyn, IL	56	28,750	$544,000	3.9×	$140,938	29.1 min	6.3%	20
65	Dyer, IN	56	16,273	$322,200	3.0×	$107,159	29.4 min	6.2%	25
66	Plano, IL	56	12,677	$230,700	2.7×	$86,271	27.5 min	10.2%	45
67	Burr Ridge, IL	56	11,179	$700,400	4.5×	$156,829	29.2 min	3.9%	14
68	Woodstock, IL	55	25,740	$245,700	3.0×	$82,758	24.6 min	6.0%	50
69	Brookfield, IL	55	18,879	$332,400	3.0×	$110,295	32.7 min	5.4%	8
70	Westchester, IL	55	16,300	$327,300	3.3×	$98,954	27.4 min	5.0%	11
71	Warrenville, IL	55	15,211	$286,100	2.9×	$100,321	27.4 min	11.3%	26
72	River Forest, IL	55	11,393	$687,300	4.7×	$146,786	32.5 min	2.7%	8
73	Arlington Heights, IL	54	76,216	$414,500	3.6×	$116,723	27.7 min	6.0%	24
74	Morton Grove, IL	54	24,582	$389,100	3.5×	$111,116	28.4 min	7.3%	15
75	Darien, IL	54	22,032	$398,700	3.6×	$111,215	28.7 min	4.2%	17
76	Villa Park, IL	54	21,888	$329,000	3.5×	$95,015	26.8 min	4.7%	15
77	La Grange Park, IL	54	13,453	$439,800	3.7×	$120,408	29.0 min	4.9%	10
78	Hoffman Estates, IL	53	50,858	$351,900	3.3×	$106,806	28.5 min	7.1%	28
79	Downers Grove, IL	53	50,365	$449,800	3.9×	$115,114	27.8 min	5.5%	18
80	Lombard, IL	53	44,399	$335,700	3.3×	$100,362	25.6 min	7.2%	17
81	Streamwood, IL	53	38,277	$271,200	2.7×	$101,218	30.1 min	10.2%	28
82	Sycamore, IL	53	19,083	$265,700	3.2×	$84,120	26.3 min	8.1%	52
83	Chesterton, IN	53	14,635	$300,900	3.3×	$91,060	25.6 min	9.3%	36
84	Carpentersville, IL	52	37,045	$234,100	2.7×	$86,917	28.2 min	10.3%	37
85	Rolling Meadows, IL	52	23,690	$326,200	3.3×	$98,514	25.5 min	8.5%	24
86	Bloomingdale, IL	52	22,476	$376,500	3.7×	$102,928	27.0 min	5.5%	22
87	Joliet, IL	51	152,241	$265,800	2.9×	$92,201	28.8 min	11.1%	33
88	Tinley Park, IL	51	55,140	$299,900	2.9×	$105,189	33.7 min	5.0%	20
89	Round Lake Beach, IL	51	26,902	$199,200	2.3×	$86,059	30.4 min	14.8%	43
90	Beach Park, IL	51	14,114	$245,800	2.9×	$85,664	27.7 min	8.5%	43
91	Palos Heights, IL	51	12,084	$367,100	3.4×	$108,740	29.9 min	5.2%	13
92	Elgin, IL	50	115,476	$273,000	3.0×	$90,282	28.2 min	9.8%	36
93	Schaumburg, IL	50	77,249	$330,400	3.4×	$97,514	27.8 min	5.7%	24
94	Oak Forest, IL	50	26,792	$255,100	2.8×	$91,990	31.8 min	6.5%	16
95	West Chicago, IL	50	25,296	$336,800	3.4×	$99,927	26.3 min	13.0%	28
96	Cedar Lake, IN	50	16,789	$282,000	3.4×	$83,381	31.7 min	3.5%	34
97	Griffith, IN	50	16,137	$210,100	2.7×	$76,636	28.3 min	7.1%	25
98	Lincolnwood, IL	50	13,039	$496,400	4.5×	$109,731	28.5 min	6.3%	12
99	Mount Prospect, IL	49	55,395	$397,400	3.9×	$101,720	25.9 min	6.6%	20
100	Carol Stream, IL	49	39,315	$335,000	3.3×	$102,309	28.1 min	6.4%	24
101	Lowell, IN	49	11,853	$248,000	3.0×	$84,024	32.7 min	5.5%	40
102	Hanover Park, IL	48	36,568	$274,200	3.0×	$91,763	29.1 min	12.5%	26
103	Des Plaines, IL	47	58,772	$335,600	3.4×	$97,875	28.2 min	6.0%	18
104	Portage, IN	47	38,634	$224,200	2.9×	$76,276	27.3 min	11.6%	31
105	North Chicago, IL	47	34,050	$159,600	2.7×	$60,172	16.8 min	24.5%	34
106	Glendale Heights, IL	47	32,655	$261,700	3.0×	$86,545	26.7 min	10.3%	21
107	McHenry, IL	47	29,217	$266,500	3.1×	$86,315	29.0 min	4.7%	46
108	Lisle, IL	47	23,432	$406,800	3.8×	$107,479	27.7 min	5.9%	21
109	Woodridge, IL	46	34,028	$363,700	3.6×	$101,000	29.8 min	5.5%	20
110	Highland, IN	46	23,409	$233,300	3.0×	$78,062	25.6 min	11.6%	23
111	Matteson, IL	46	18,543	$250,600	2.6×	$95,457	33.8 min	9.7%	23
112	Bellwood, IL	46	18,116	$230,000	2.9×	$79,513	27.8 min	11.7%	10
113	Wood Dale, IL	46	14,081	$318,900	3.5×	$91,382	27.8 min	6.7%	18
114	Lake Station, IN	46	12,977	$137,400	2.3×	$59,591	26.8 min	15.4%	29
115	Elk Grove Village, IL	45	31,885	$347,100	3.7×	$94,175	25.5 min	7.9%	20
116	Morris, IL	45	14,669	$247,400	3.2×	$76,711	21.5 min	7.7%	50
117	Hazel Crest, IL	45	13,024	$185,300	2.7×	$68,393	26.8 min	24.0%	18
118	Waukegan, IL	44	87,940	$190,900	2.7×	$71,919	26.1 min	15.3%	38
119	Wheeling, IL	44	38,391	$266,200	3.1×	$85,205	25.7 min	10.0%	24
120	Skokie, IL	43	66,544	$387,200	4.1×	$95,337	27.9 min	9.7%	14
121	Palatine, IL	43	65,842	$355,600	3.6×	$97,819	27.7 min	8.2%	27
122	East Chicago, IN	43	25,610	$105,400	2.5×	$42,125	20.8 min	26.3%	18
123	Country Club Hills, IL	43	16,215	$192,000	2.6×	$75,197	31.0 min	10.1%	19
124	Schiller Park, IL	43	11,317	$275,000	3.9×	$69,696	24.8 min	2.5%	13
125	Addison, IL	42	35,758	$341,300	3.8×	$90,431	25.6 min	8.7%	18
126	Hobart, IN	42	29,298	$215,200	2.9×	$75,160	26.5 min	10.0%	31
127	South Holland, IL	42	20,749	$217,200	2.5×	$85,280	34.1 min	14.4%	17
128	Huntley, IL	41	29,132	$334,300	3.8×	$88,536	29.5 min	8.6%	45
129	Orland Park, IL	40	57,954	$367,200	3.7×	$98,910	33.8 min	7.3%	18
130	Zion, IL	40	24,447	$183,800	2.9×	$63,104	27.7 min	16.0%	44
131	Gary, IN	39	67,289	$94,700	2.4×	$38,731	25.9 min	33.1%	24
132	Schererville, IN	39	29,825	$314,900	3.5×	$89,466	31.3 min	7.7%	27
133	Lansing, IL	39	28,068	$177,000	2.3×	$75,569	32.6 min	14.0%	20
134	Bensenville, IL	39	18,525	$272,000	3.4×	$79,515	25.8 min	7.6%	16
135	Hammond, IN	38	75,712	$159,900	2.9×	$55,504	25.7 min	19.1%	18
136	Oak Lawn, IL	37	56,450	$281,200	3.4×	$83,911	30.8 min	9.6%	9
137	Prospect Heights, IL	37	15,552	$346,500	4.1×	$85,008	26.0 min	7.3%	22
138	Oak Park, IL	36	52,823	$465,500	4.2×	$110,820	31.6 min	7.4%	6
139	Midlothian, IL	36	13,841	$207,000	3.0×	$70,000	28.8 min	9.8%	15
140	Valparaiso, IN	35	35,177	$267,300	3.8×	$69,872	24.8 min	14.9%	41
141	Westmont, IL	35	24,155	$379,100	4.3×	$88,090	26.6 min	9.8%	15
142	Park Forest, IL	35	21,079	$115,300	1.9×	$61,072	31.8 min	17.6%	25
143	Crest Hill, IL	35	20,695	$232,900	3.2×	$73,033	28.0 min	12.0%	29
144	Harvey, IL	35	19,849	$88,100	2.1×	$42,429	30.1 min	22.6%	16
145	Franklin Park, IL	35	18,045	$287,000	3.8×	$76,519	28.9 min	9.4%	12
146	Markham, IL	35	11,274	$135,300	2.4×	$57,302	35.7 min	18.0%	16
147	Crestwood, IL	35	10,529	$195,200	2.6×	$75,752	32.7 min	13.0%	14
148	Evanston, IL	34	76,380	$481,200	5.0×	$96,434	27.5 min	11.8%	14
149	Burbank, IL	34	28,578	$275,700	3.4×	$80,116	31.3 min	12.9%	8
150	Dolton, IL	33	20,671	$151,300	2.6×	$57,887	30.7 min	21.7%	15
151	Northlake, IL	33	12,462	$259,800	3.1×	$83,892	28.5 min	10.9%	13
152	Niles, IL	32	30,443	$358,700	4.8×	$75,274	28.3 min	8.5%	15
153	Chicago Heights, IL	32	26,508	$161,000	2.9×	$54,798	30.1 min	26.9%	23
154	River Grove, IL	32	10,409	$241,800	3.5×	$69,858	30.8 min	6.2%	10
155	Hickory Hills, IL	31	14,101	$288,000	3.7×	$77,262	29.9 min	11.4%	11
156	Palos Hills, IL	30	18,028	$279,200	3.3×	$83,533	35.2 min	8.4%	12
157	Berwyn, IL	29	55,001	$299,800	3.8×	$78,408	29.0 min	10.9%	5
158	Merrillville, IN	29	37,407	$211,400	3.1×	$67,587	32.1 min	12.6%	32
159	Norridge, IL	29	14,808	$374,900	4.3×	$87,807	34.2 min	7.9%	11
160	Forest Park, IL	29	13,829	$304,700	3.9×	$77,221	27.4 min	11.6%	7
161	Melrose Park, IL	28	23,936	$275,800	4.2×	$66,189	27.1 min	12.3%	10
162	Elmwood Park, IL	28	23,675	$339,300	3.7×	$91,955	32.2 min	8.0%	9
163	Cicero, IL	27	81,858	$249,400	3.5×	$70,842	29.3 min	14.6%	4
164	Calumet City, IL	26	34,798	$145,200	2.6×	$55,369	34.4 min	23.4%	18
165	Maywood, IL	26	23,330	$229,800	3.3×	$68,815	34.4 min	15.5%	9
166	Lyons, IL	26	10,433	$257,300	3.6×	$70,993	28.1 min	14.0%	7
167	DeKalb, IL	25	40,467	$204,700	4.4×	$46,481	23.8 min	24.9%	55
168	Blue Island, IL	25	21,805	$178,700	3.0×	$59,489	29.0 min	17.1%	12
169	Alsip, IL	25	18,483	$225,000	3.4×	$66,585	30.1 min	12.1%	12
170	Fox Lake, IL	24	10,849	$228,100	3.2×	$70,819	33.8 min	13.1%	48
171	Summit, IL	24	10,753	$232,600	3.8×	$61,863	28.9 min	11.2%	7
172	Chicago Ridge, IL	23	14,036	$226,900	3.3×	$68,964	31.8 min	20.4%	10
173	Richton Park, IL	23	12,483	$220,900	3.4×	$64,554	33.1 min	8.8%	25
174	Riverdale, IL	23	10,280	$113,800	2.9×	$39,833	33.9 min	41.5%	14
175	Bridgeview, IL	22	16,521	$236,400	3.5×	$66,655	30.7 min	12.8%	9
176	Worth, IL	21	10,696	$215,000	3.8×	$56,288	28.0 min	21.1%	12
177	Justice, IL	16	12,285	$238,400	4.2×	$57,170	31.5 min	19.4%	9

Most affordable homes

Park Forest 1.9 years of income, $115,300
Harvey 2.1 years of income, $88,100
Lindenhurst 2.2 years of income, $294,100
Homewood 2.2 years of income, $221,100
Round Lake Beach 2.3 years of income, $199,200

Most families with kids

Manhattan 52.6% of households
Plainfield 48.3% of households
Hinsdale 48.2% of households
Minooka 47.0% of households
Lake in the Hills 46.7% of households

How the score works

For each measure we rank the 177 places from worst to best within this metro area, then combine the ranks with these weights: home value compared with household income (20%), household income (15%), poverty rate (15%), average commute (15%), share of adults with a bachelor's degree (10%), homeownership (10%), households with children (10%) and population growth since 2020 (5%). Unincorporated communities have no official growth estimate, so they get the middle value for that part. A score of 100 would mean first on every measure.

Everything comes from the Census Bureau: the American Community Survey 2020-2024 and the 2025 population estimates. We leave out crime and school ratings because comparable official data for every town does not exist; check local school district and police data for the places on your shortlist.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best suburbs of Chicago?

On our data-only score, Libertyville, Campton Hills and New Lenox rank highest among 177 places of 10,000+ people in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.

What is the most affordable suburb of Chicago?

Park Forest has the lowest ratio of median home value to household income (1.9 years), with a median home of $115,300.

Which Chicago suburb has the shortest commute?

North Chicago, where the average commute is 16.8 minutes each way.

Back to the Chicago city profile, or see the best suburbs of other big cities.

Places are incorporated cities, towns and villages plus census-designated places with 10,000 or more residents, assigned to the metro area by county (OMB 2023 delineations). Distances are straight lines from the center of Chicago. The Census Bureau caps published medians at $250,000 for income and $2,000,000 for home values, shown with a plus sign.