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Illinois is not just Chicago. Yes, the Windy City is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the state, but it accounts for less than a quarter of Illinois’ population of 12.7 million. The Land of Lincoln has a multitude of other cities that are great, and even exciting, places to hang your hat. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at our picks for Illinois’ five best cities to live in.

1. Chicago

Yes, Chicago is Illinois’ best city to live in, but not without reason, as the Windy City has a lot going for it: a beautiful skyline, distinct neighborhoods with their own character that suit every taste, a great food scene, miles of salt-free beaches, and a cost of living that won’t ruin you— unlike New York or San Francisco. No matter what your lifestyle, you’ll be sure to find your sweet spot in Chicago.

2. Urbana

You’ll have to head 140 miles south from Chicago to reach our #2 city, Urbana, located amidst the cornfields of central Illinois. Along with its sister city Champaign, Urbana is the home of the prestigious University of Illinois, which breathes life into the city’s art & culture scene, in addition to being Urbana’s biggest employer.

3. Wheaton

Suburban Chicago, with its small-town character and big city access, is one of the best areas to raise a family in America, and #3 Wheaton is a great example of the region. With an excellent school district and a great downtown area with shops and restaurants, Wheaton is an in-demand city to settle down in.

4. Schaumburg

Schaumburg, another suburb of Chicago, is Illinois’ #4 best city to live in. The quintessential suburb is home to four university campuses and Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in the county.

5. Lisle

Lisle, home of the wonderful Morton Arboretum, is #5 on the list.

Best Cities to Live in Illinois

Rank	City
1	Chicago
2	Urbana
3	Wheaton
4	Schaumburg
5	Lisle
6	Downers Grove
7	Glen Ellyn
8	Elmhurst
9	Lombard
10	Woodridge
11	Bloomington
12	Batavia
13	Buffalo Grove
14	Normal
15	Libertyville
16	Champaign
17	Naperville
18	Galesburg
19	Villa Park
20	Geneva
21	Arlington Heights
22	Northbrook
23	Hoffman Estates
24	Jacksonville
25	Wheeling
26	Palatine
27	Carol Stream
28	Aurora
29	Gurnee
30	Willowbrook
31	Vernon Hills
32	Bartlett
33	Deerfield
34	Moline
35	La Grange
36	Wilmette
37	Glendale Heights
38	Oak Park
39	Elk Grove Village
40	Springfield
41	Park Ridge
42	East Peoria
43	Crystal Lake
44	O Fallon
45	Bourbonnais
46	Edwardsville
47	Pekin
48	Grayslake
49	Mount Prospect
50	Midlothian
51	Des Plaines
52	Tinley Park
53	Marion
54	Rock Island
55	Cary
56	Skokie
57	Niles
58	Algonquin
59	Mundelein
60	Hanover Park
61	Saint Charles
62	Lake Villa
63	Streamwood
64	Oak Forest
65	Lansing
66	Orland Park
67	Highland Park
68	Evanston
69	Huntley
70	Addison
71	Plainfield
72	Collinsville
73	Lake Zurich
74	Glenview
75	Dekalb
76	West Chicago
77	New Lenox
78	Frankfort
79	Bolingbrook
80	Freeport
81	Oak Lawn
82	Lake In The Hills
83	Carbondale
84	Mokena
85	Elgin
86	Barrington
87	Romeoville
88	Alton
89	Granite City
90	Lockport
91	Belleville
92	Quincy
93	Mchenry
94	Woodstock
95	Chicago Heights
96	Kankakee
97	Carpentersville
98	Berwyn
99	Rockford
100	Burbank

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Methodology

We ranked a total of 2,509 qualified cities (those with populations above 25,000 and enough data for analysis) by five factors: employment (number of establishments, median earnings); housing (owner-occupied housing with a mortgage, monthly housing costs); quality of life (work commute, poverty levels); education (percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher); and health (obesity ratios).