A new list from U.S. News & World Report ranks the best places to live in Illinois for 2025-26, and the top spot will surprise you.
According to the report, Arlington Heights, located in the northwest Chicago suburb, earned the No. 1 position among 22 villages and cities in the state.
The report evaluated 250 major U.S. cities across the United States, using various metrics, including quality of education, availability of healthcare, housing affordability, crime rates, and commuter indexes. This data was sourced from both private and public sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, and then compiled on a scale with a rating of 10.0.
What’s it like to live in Arlington Heights?
The Chicago suburb boasts a unique blend of old and new—locals praise the award-winning schools, library, park district, and the highly regarded Northwest Community Hospital.
The median household income in Arlington Heights is $114,653, and the average commute time is about 23.96 minutes. The unemployment rate here is 3.13%.
From all the above, Arlington Heights earned a total score of 6.4. The suburb is also currently a hot topic, as it could potentially become the new home of the Chicago Bears.
Additionally, several other Chicago suburbs have ranked among the best places to live in Illinois. In the rankings, Buffalo Grove came in at No. 2, followed by Naperville at No. 3, Palatine at No. 4, Elgin at No. 5, and Schaumburg at No. 6.
The full ranking of the 22 Best Places to Live in Illinois:
- Arlington Heights
- Buffalo Grove
- Naperville
- Palatine
- Elgin
- Schaumburg
- Bloomington
- Bolingbrook
- Skokie
- Des Plaines
- Aurora
- Evanston
- Springfield
- Cicero
- Decatur
- Peoria
- Joliet
- Rockford
- Champaign
- Waukegan
- Chicago
- Kankakee
The full report from U.S. News & World Report can be found here.