Those of us living in Chicago can attest to its status as one of the best cities in the world. The culinary scene is exceptional, with some of the finest Michelin-star restaurants, and the city offers attractions such as one of the most beloved art museums in the world. Chicago has much to offer. However, despite these appealing aspects, one area where the city falls short is providing an ideal environment for starting and raising a family.
So if you’re looking for a place to raise your family, you’ll need to look outside of Chicago to the suburb of West Chicago—that’s according to a recent study done by Fortune, who looked at over 2,000 cities across the country to find the best place for families to live in each of the 50 states.
Ranked 20 in the US, West Chicago is located exactly 32 miles from downtown. With above-average public schools, numerous restaurants, and a suburban feel, it’s a top choice for families who prefer not to live in the heart of Chicago itself, according to Fortune magazine.
The city loves a good festival to celebrate the seasons: Take your pick from the Blooming Fest, Food Festival, and Frosty Fest. It’s also home to two farms: Kline Creek Farm and Sonny Acres, the latter of which is perfect for pumpkin-picking come fall.
According to Attom, the median listing price in the area is $347,457, placing it in the lower middle range of housing markets on this list, despite being competitive.
To decide which suburb made the list, Fortune examined over 2,000 cities, towns, suburbs, exurbs, villages, and townships, each with approximately 20,000 residents or more, across all 50 U.S. states to determine the best places for families to live. They evaluated them based on nearly 200 data categories across five main themes: education, Resources for aging adults, General wellness, Financial health, and Livability.
Here are the top 10 list of best places to live for families in 2024, according to Fortune:
1. Silver Spring, Marland
2. Upper Merion, Pennsylvania
3. Chantilly, Virginia
4. Ann Arbor, Michigan
5. Mason, Ohio
6. Franklin, Tennessee
7. Lafayette, Colorado
8. Overland Park, Kansas
9. Morristown, New Jersey
10. Portsmouth, New Hampshire