Best places to live in Chicago is an intriguing issue attracts residents and visitors at home and abroad. Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2024 census, it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. As the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S., Chicago is the center of the Chicago metropolitan area, often colloquially called “Chicagoland” and home to 9.6 million residents.
The city’s waterfront location and nightlife attracts residents and tourists alike. Over a third of the city population is concentrated in the lakefront neighborhoods from Rogers Park in the north to South Shore in the south.
Chicago is an international hub for finance, culture, commerce, industry, education, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. It has the largest and most diverse finance derivatives market in the world, generating 20% of all volume in commodities and financial futures alone. Chicago is a major destination for tourism, including visitors to its cultural institutions, and Lake Michigan beaches. Chicago’s culture has contributed much to the visual arts, literature, film, theater and comedy.
This blog selects and analyzes top 10 best places to live in Chicago, advantages and methodology. With this comprehensive guide, you can make the best choice of your destination.
Top 10 Best Places to Live in Chicago
Top 1. Naperville
Population: 149,089
Median Household Income: $143,754
Median Home Value: $482,600
Median Rent: $1,787
Violent Crimes: 15.4
Property Crimes: 36.3
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago located 28 miles west of the city on the DuPage River. As of the 2024 census, its population was 149,089, making it the state’s fourth-most populous city. Naperville is home to Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon, one of the world’s four largest carillons. It is also home to an extensive parks and forest preserve network, including Centennial Beach. Naperville has multiple colleges and universities within its city limits. The Naperville Park District manages and provides leisure and recreational activities for Naperville and nearby residents.
It is a Chicago city in America and one of best places to live in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best areas to live in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 2. Clarendon Hills
Population: 8,658
Median Household Income: $115,923
Median Home Value: $570,600
Median Rent: $1,126
Violent Crimes: 11.4
Property Crimes: 22.8
Clarendon Hills is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. It is a south-west suburb of Chicago. The area that is now Clarendon Hills was a wide, rolling prairie bordering the east side of Westmont. Most of the older villages in Downers Grove Township were built on the same street grid as the Village of Downers Grove. Clarendon Hills has a station on Metra’s BNSF Line, which provides daily rail service between Aurora, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois.
It is a great places to stay in Chicago and one of best places to live in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best neighborhoods in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 3. Long Grove
Population: 8,279
Median Household Income: $115,923
Median Home Value: $721,100
Median Rent: $3,501
Violent Crimes: 6.1
Property Crimes: 284
Long Grove is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States, approximately 35 miles away from and a northwest suburb of Chicago. The village now has very strict building ordinances to preserve its “pristine rural charm”, including prohibitions on sidewalks, fences, and residential street lights. The Long Grove area is now known for its historic downtown, its exclusive million dollar homes and the annual events including the chocolate, strawberry and apple festivals that take place in May, June and September, respectively. The Robert Parker Coffin Bridge, on the edge of the city’s downtown, is a historic 1906 bridge that is featured on the Long Grove’s logo and welcome signs.
It is a best suburbs of Chicago and one of best places to live in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best neighborhoods in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 4. Hinsdale
Population: 17,169
Median Household Income: $250,001
Median Home Value: $962,700
Median Rent: $1,875
Violent Crimes: 7.5
Property Crimes: 362
Hinsdale is a village in Cook and DuPage counties in the U.S. state of Illinois and one of the wealthiest communities of Illinois. Hinsdale is located 20 miles (32 km) west of Chicago and is bordered by Oak Brook to the north, and Burr Ridge and Willowbrook to the south. Hinsdale’s downtown area is a National Register Historic District. The downtown area is located in the center of town and is remarkably little changed considering the many teardowns that have occurred over time. While many Hinsdale residents commute to jobs throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, Hinsdale is also the home of many small and medium-sized businesses.
It is a best suburbs of Chicago and one of best places in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best neighborhoods in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 5. Buffalo Grove
Population: 42,934
Median Household Income: $127,553
Median Home Value: $380,700
Median Rent: $1,988
Violent Crimes: 9.4
Property Crimes: 294
Buffalo Grove is a village in Lake and Cook Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 30 miles northwest of Downtown Chicago and 20 miles north of O’Hare International Airport. The name “Buffalo Grove” comes from the English translation of the Potawatomi name for Buffalo Creek, which flows through some of the village. The village features dozens of recreational facilities, parks, and festivals, including a months-long Farmers’ market, two golf courses, and the popular “Buffalo Grove Days”. Buffalo Grove has an elected council-manager government with home rule status. The Buffalo Grove economy includes several corporate business parks, a diverse retail market, and professional services. Buffalo Grove has four private schools, over ten public schools, and one public high school.
It is one of areas in Chicago Illinois and one of best places in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best neighborhoods in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 6. Vernon Hills
Population: 26,750
Median Household Income: $127,553
Median Home Value: $370,700
Median Rent: $1,873
Violent Crimes: 7.1
Property Crimes: 315
Vernon Hills is a suburb north of Chicago, Illinois in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Vernon Hills serves as a retail hub for its surrounding area including Libertyville, Lake Forest, Mundelein, Long Grove, Lincolnshire and Buffalo Grove. Vernon Hills is one of six communities which, in part, comprise the Cook Memorial Public Library District. The Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills is the village’s first full-service library. There are six grade schools in the village served by the Hawthorn School District.
It is one of Chicago good place to visit and one of best places in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best neighborhoods in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 7. Kildeer
Population: 4,133
Median Household Income: $250,001
Median Home Value: $683,900
Median Rent: $961
Violent Crimes: 5.9
Property Crimes: 653
Kildeer is a village in southwestern Lake County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. It has limited development to custom houses on large lots, and has worked to preserve natural features and open space. The village is served by three highly accredited public school districts: Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95, Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 and Consolidated High School District 125. Daily commuters to Chicago and other workplaces can use the Metra train station in Palatine, Illinois; others use Illinois Route 53 to reach Interstate 90.
It is one of Chicago good place to visit and one of best places in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best areas to live in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 8. Evanston
Population: 77,181
Median Household Income: $250,001
Median Home Value: $454,600
Median Rent: $1,625
Violent Crimes: 8.1
Property Crimes: 478
Evanston is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. A suburb of Chicago, Evanston is 12 miles north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west. The Evanston Public Library was established in 1873, and has a satellite branch at the Robert Crown Community Center.
It is one of best of Chicago and one of great places to visit in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is one of best areas to live in Chicago and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 9. Loop
Population: 38,255
Median Household Income: $250,001
Median Home Value: $493,338
Median Rent: $2,432
Violent Crimes: 3.2
Property Crimes: 262
Loop is Chicago’s central business district and one of the city’s 77 municipally recognized community areas. Located at the center of downtown Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, it is the second-largest business district in North America after Midtown Manhattan. The headquarters and regional offices of several global and national businesses, retail establishments, restaurants, hotels, and theaters–as well as many of Chicago’s most famous attractions–are located in the Loop. The neighborhood also hosts Chicago’s City Hall, the seat of Cook County, offices of other levels of government, and several foreign consulates. The intersection of State Street and Madison Street in the Loop is the origin point for the address system on Chicago’s street grid. Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University are all located in the Loop.
It is one of best places to live in Chicago and one of great places to visit in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is a greater Chicago area and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Top 10. Northbrook
Population: 34,950
Median Household Income: $150,236
Median Home Value: $621,600
Median Rent: $1,998
Violent Crimes: 7.5
Property Crimes: 437
Northbrook is a suburb of Chicago, located at the northern edge of Cook County, Illinois, United States, on the border of Lake County. Northbrook’s economy is centered around the service industry, primarily professional services, health care, administration, retail, and manufacturing. Northbrook Historical Society works to preserve Northbrook’s heritage and educate people about it. It operates a museum located in the former Northfield Inn. Northbrook’s largest event is Northbrook Days, a multi-day festival typically held every year towards the end of the summer. It features carnival games, roller coasters and amusement rides, food vendors, live music, and raffles.
It is one of Chicago best places to work and one of great places to visit in Chicago and popular spots in Chicago. It is a greater Chicago area and Chicago top 10 places to visit.
Advantages of Living in Best Places in Chicago
- The Food Scene
Chances are, when you think of Chicago and food, you think of the city’s famous deep-dish pizza (aka Chicago-style pizza). In addition to the deep-dish delicacy, Chicago also boasts an amazing take on thin-crust pizza, though it tends to get overshadowed by its famous cousin.
- Chicago Culture Scene
There’s always something to do in Chicago, and many times, it won’t cost you a dime (thanks to free museum days, local live music, and outdoor festivals, to name a few things).
- The Sports Teams
Sports fans will fit right in as residents of the Windy City. When the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016, they ended the longest championship drought in professional sports – 107 years without a title.
- Lots of Career Opportunities
Chicago has all kinds of job opportunities, whether you want to advance in your current career or start a new one. Major Fortune 500 companies call this city home, as well as all kinds of local businesses and even startups.
- Public Transit System
Chicago’s public transit system does a great job of getting you around the city.
Methodology of Best Places to live in Chicago
uhomes.com analyzes precise data about Median Household Income, Median Home Value, Median Rent, Violent Crimes and Property Crimes in best places to live in Chicago.
Household income is a measure of income received by the household sector. Because the number of people or earners per household can vary significantly between regions and over time, the choice of measurement basis can impact household income rankings and trends.
House price trends are one of the most important indicators of a neighborhood’s economic health. Understanding how these trends vary within the City of Chicago and suburban County is critical to those working to develop policies and investment strategies sensitive and responsive to local market dynamics and household financial conditions.
Crime rates in the society reflect to what extent people feel that their freedom of movement and their property are protected. Crime rates refer to systematic, quantitative results about crime, as opposed to crime news or anecdotes. Public surveys are occasionally conducted to estimate the amount of crime that has not been reported to police. Such surveys are usually more reliable for assessing trends. Crime Index is an estimation of the overall level of crime in a given city or country. We consider crime levels lower than 20 as very low, crime levels between 20 and 40 as low, crime levels between 40 and 60 as moderate, crime levels between 60 and 80 as high, and crime levels higher than 80 as very high.
List of Top 10 Best Places to Live in Chicago
Top 1. Naperville
Top 2. Clarendon Hills
Top 3. Long Grove
Top 4. Hinsdale
Top 5. Buffalo Grove
Top 6. Vernon Hills
Top 7. Kildeer
Top 8. Evanston
Top 9. Loop
Top 10. Northbrook
Conclusion
Top 10 best places to live in Chicago is analyzed comprehensively and detailedly in this blog. You can think twice about your destination and make the best choice. After you decide one of good places to live in Chicago, accommodation is first and foremost thing. uhomes.com will provide you with affordable, reliable and comfortable student apartment in Chicago.
FAQ
With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2024 census, it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles.
Chicago has a higher-than-average crime rate, it can be expensive to live in certain neighborhoods, and the weather can get very cold. But is Chicago a good place to live overall? We and plenty of its 2.7 million residents think so.
Is Chicago worth moving to? Yes! There are plenty of job opportunities, and the housing costs are less than many coastal cities. You also have access to all kinds of cultural activities, the food scene is thriving, and there’s always something to do.
The top pros of living in Chicago are the food scene (it’s a foodie heaven), the live music, the sports culture, and a top-notch cultural calendar that’s busy throughout the year.
Wondering what salary you need to live comfortably in Chicago? The average annual pay in Chicago is around $87,592. Keep in mind, however, that housing costs can vary depending on the neighborhood you live in and whether you rent or buy.
The cost of Living in Chicago is about 6 percent above the U.S. average and 13 percent above the Illinois state average. However, when you compare Chicago to cities like Los Angeles and New York, you’ll find the Second City is much more affordable.
If you’re not commuting by car, Chicago’s public transit system does a great job of getting you around the city. It was even named among a list of the best cities for mass transit, per Time Out.
When it comes to New York and Chicago lifestyles, it’s not for us to say which aligns more with your preferences. If you’re looking to compare the two cities, though, it’s worth noting that New York is much bigger than Chicago — NYC has a population of about 8.8 million, while Chicago, also a big city, is home to around 2.7 million. Chicago has a lower cost of living to match, though, as well as a friendly midwestern feel as opposed to New York’s fast-paced reputation.
Come for the deep-dish pizza, stay for the Cubs games, friendly residents, bustling arts scene, delicious dining options, lower cost of living than major cities like Los Angeles and New York, and the plethora of diverse neighborhoods to make your home — just to name a few reasons.
