You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Illinois. Best sururbs in Illinois. Best counties in Illinois.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Prairie State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Illinois based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Illinois ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Illinois For 2024
- Leland Grove
- Prestbury
- Dunlap
- Philo
- Knollwood
- Sherman
- Germa
- Rochester
- Kenilworth
- Stillman Valley
- Bannockburn
- Third Lake
- Hudson
- Tremont
- Orion
What’s the best small town in Illinois? Leland Grove is the best small town in Illinois based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Leland Grove, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Prairie State check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
The 15 Best Small Towns In Illinois For 2024
1. Leland Grove
/10
Population: 1,478
Median Income: $127,500 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $281,594 (45th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
2. Prestbury
/10
Population: 2,100
Median Income: $126,667 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $367,257 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
3. Dunlap
/10
Population: 1,417
Median Income: $131,643 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $277,608 (46th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
4. Philo
/10
Population: 1,389
Median Income: $103,621 (46th Best)
Median Home Value: $225,553 (92nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
5. Knollwood
/10
Population: 1,763
Median Income: $157,396 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $368,944 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
6. Sherman
/10
Population: 4,120
Median Income: $139,475 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $291,673 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%
7. Germa
/10
Population: 3,433
Median Income: $145,438 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $261,739 (61st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
8. Rochester
/10
Population: 3,752
Median Income: $107,800 (39th Best)
Median Home Value: $264,557 (57th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
9. Kenilworth
/10
Population: 2,537
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,644,898 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
10. Stillman Valley
/10
Population: 1,177
Median Income: $81,515 (97th Best)
Median Home Value: $254,769 (66th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
11. Bannockburn
/10
Population: 1,065
Median Income: $161,875 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,054,663 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%
12. Third Lake
/10
Population: 1,214
Median Income: $152,593 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $356,702 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%
13. Hudson
/10
Population: 2,225
Median Income: $99,511 (54th Best)
Median Home Value: $271,015 (51st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
14. Tremont
/10
Population: 2,237
Median Income: $75,469 (120th Best)
Median Home Value: $220,792 (95th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%
15. Orion
/10
Population: 1,966
Median Income: $88,529 (75th Best)
Median Home Value: $194,728 (120th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Illinois
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Illinois possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 364 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 364, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Illinois. Top of that list — Leland Grove.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Illinois.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Illinois are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Illinois are Leland Grove, Prestbury, Dunlap, Philo, Knollwood, Sherman, Germa, Rochester, Kenilworth, and Stillman Valley.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Illinois:
- Cairo
- Venice
- Lewistown
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Illinois
- Safest Places In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
Best Small Towns In Illinois
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leland Grove, IL | 1,478 | $127,500 | 2.3% | |
| 2 | Prestbury, IL | 2,100 | $126,667 | 0.0% | |
| 3 | Dunlap, IL | 1,417 | $131,643 | 2.9% | |
| 4 | Philo, IL | 1,389 | $103,621 | 0.9% | |
| 5 | Knollwood, IL | 1,763 | $157,396 | 0.0% | |
| 6 | Sherman, IL | 4,120 | $139,475 | 3.0% | |
| 7 | Germa, IL | 3,433 | $145,438 | 3.3% | |
| 8 | Rochester, IL | 3,752 | $107,800 | 3.9% | |
| 9 | Kenilworth, IL | 2,537 | $250,001 | 3.3% | |
| 10 | Stillman Valley, IL | 1,177 | $81,515 | 2.5% | |
| 11 | Bannockburn, IL | 1,065 | $161,875 | 2.2% | |
| 12 | Third Lake, IL | 1,214 | $152,593 | 3.7% | |
| 13 | Hudson, IL | 2,225 | $99,511 | 2.1% | |
| 14 | Tremont, IL | 2,237 | $75,469 | 0.7% | |
| 15 | Orion, IL | 1,966 | $88,529 | 3.5% | |
| 16 | Teutopolis, IL | 1,811 | $89,044 | 1.7% | |
| 17 | St. Joseph, IL | 3,931 | $101,087 | 0.7% | |
| 18 | Metamora, IL | 4,065 | $83,793 | 0.0% | |
| 19 | Forest Lake, IL | 1,344 | $112,031 | 5.4% | |
| 20 | Aviston, IL | 2,342 | $99,821 | 0.9% | |
| 21 | Williamsville, IL | 1,468 | $99,938 | 2.1% | |
| 22 | St. Jacob, IL | 1,597 | $94,531 | 1.8% | |
| 23 | Downs, IL | 1,530 | $104,890 | 0.5% | |
| 24 | Deer Park, IL | 3,694 | $172,586 | 2.3% | |
| 25 | Green Oaks, IL | 4,096 | $135,217 | 2.3% | |
| 26 | Tower Lakes, IL | 1,282 | $162,083 | 3.9% | |
| 27 | Oreana, IL | 1,076 | $90,469 | 5.0% | |
| 28 | Kildeer, IL | 4,133 | $250,001 | 3.1% | |
| 29 | Fairbury, IL | 3,731 | $64,150 | 3.6% | |
| 30 | Fox River Grove, IL | 4,600 | $121,705 | 3.6% | |
| 31 | Forsyth, IL | 3,856 | $107,944 | 5.5% | |
| 32 | Lebanon, IL | 4,683 | $86,548 | 1.2% | |
| 33 | Coal Valley, IL | 3,959 | $97,917 | 3.4% | |
| 34 | Indian Head Park, IL | 4,022 | $100,455 | 7.3% | |
| 35 | Twin Grove, IL | 1,412 | $105,313 | 0.8% | |
| 36 | Riverwoods, IL | 4,007 | $233,036 | 1.2% | |
| 37 | The Galena Territory, IL | 1,606 | $112,250 | 1.0% | |
| 38 | Marine, IL | 1,264 | $71,042 | 0.0% | |
| 39 | Lexington, IL | 2,108 | $81,389 | 2.2% | |
| 40 | Millstadt, IL | 4,035 | $97,031 | 4.5% | |
| 41 | Beecher, IL | 4,560 | $98,153 | 1.7% | |
| 42 | Wayne, IL | 2,225 | $165,313 | 2.9% | |
| 43 | Port Barrington, IL | 1,557 | $146,000 | 3.4% | |
| 44 | Sleepy Hollow, IL | 3,205 | $139,955 | 1.9% | |
| 45 | Red Bud, IL | 3,798 | $66,563 | 1.5% | |
| 46 | Heritage Lake, IL | 1,595 | $123,169 | 0.0% | |
| 47 | Lake Camelot, IL | 1,565 | $138,043 | 2.1% | |
| 48 | Tuscola, IL | 4,707 | $66,791 | 2.1% | |
| 49 | Hanna City, IL | 1,417 | $67,500 | 2.0% | |
| 50 | Tolono, IL | 3,567 | $82,623 | 11.5% | |
| 51 | Peotone, IL | 4,283 | $84,375 | 5.9% | |
| 52 | Germa, IL | 1,199 | $76,467 | 0.5% | |
| 53 | Byron, IL | 3,739 | $76,212 | 3.3% | |
| 54 | Port Byron, IL | 1,904 | $92,159 | 3.4% | |
| 55 | Albers, IL | 1,448 | $110,977 | 2.7% | |
| 56 | Pawnee, IL | 2,626 | $75,602 | 3.2% | |
| 57 | Heyworth, IL | 2,725 | $83,462 | 2.7% | |
| 58 | Rome, IL | 1,605 | $83,533 | 0.0% | |
| 59 | Roanoke, IL | 2,011 | $69,250 | 1.6% | |
| 60 | Lakewood, IL | 4,698 | $172,891 | 0.7% | |
| 61 | Fisher, IL | 1,722 | $80,156 | 1.4% | |
| 62 | Crystal Lawns, IL | 1,848 | $102,250 | 4.4% | |
| 63 | Catlin, IL | 2,091 | $62,039 | 0.0% | |
| 64 | Mackinaw, IL | 1,942 | $71,058 | 4.1% | |
| 65 | Oakwood Hills, IL | 2,475 | $107,857 | 5.7% | |
| 66 | Newark, IL | 1,156 | $123,036 | 1.3% | |
| 67 | Le Roy, IL | 3,223 | $96,176 | 3.7% | |
| 68 | Smithton, IL | 3,909 | $106,012 | 3.9% | |
| 69 | Cherry Valley, IL | 2,951 | $78,125 | 2.4% | |
| 70 | Jerome, IL | 2,194 | $52,083 | 2.0% | |
| 71 | Winnebago, IL | 3,003 | $82,708 | 3.0% | |
| 72 | Scott Afb, IL | 4,023 | $86,722 | 1.8% | |
| 73 | Barrington Hills, IL | 3,890 | $185,278 | 3.2% | |
| 74 | Prairie Grove, IL | 1,967 | $130,938 | 3.5% | |
| 75 | Elmwood, IL | 2,159 | $84,766 | 2.6% | |
| 76 | Paxton, IL | 4,225 | $59,040 | 1.5% | |
| 77 | Minier, IL | 1,063 | $74,792 | 4.0% | |
| 78 | Warrensburg, IL | 1,203 | $82,778 | 4.2% | |
| 79 | North Barrington, IL | 3,119 | $212,321 | 5.0% | |
| 80 | Herscher, IL | 1,253 | $96,250 | 5.0% | |
| 81 | Lily Lake, IL | 1,390 | $129,583 | 5.8% | |
| 82 | Timberlane, IL | 1,458 | $179,167 | 13.1% | |
| 83 | Rosemont, IL | 3,864 | $70,455 | 4.3% | |
| 84 | Auburn, IL | 4,535 | $84,750 | 0.8% | |
| 85 | Chebanse, IL | 1,046 | $82,143 | 1.2% | |
| 86 | Carthage, IL | 2,560 | $75,962 | 1.3% | |
| 87 | Hainesville, IL | 3,547 | $122,750 | 2.7% | |
| 88 | Granville, IL | 1,474 | $65,577 | 2.6% | |
| 89 | Galena, IL | 2,992 | $52,734 | 0.0% | |
| 90 | Marshall, IL | 3,939 | $64,018 | 1.2% | |
| 91 | Danvers, IL | 1,039 | $71,382 | 4.6% | |
| 92 | Big Rock, IL | 1,221 | $122,000 | 4.0% | |
| 93 | Palos Park, IL | 4,836 | $128,370 | 5.3% | |
| 94 | Bull Valley, IL | 1,248 | $147,500 | 5.1% | |
| 95 | Fox Lake Hills, IL | 2,398 | $100,875 | 6.8% | |
| 96 | New Berlin, IL | 1,247 | $73,750 | 1.4% | |
| 97 | Freeburg, IL | 4,203 | $73,065 | 3.8% | |
| 98 | East Dubuque, IL | 1,634 | $62,440 | 4.2% | |
| 99 | Lake Of The Woods, IL | 2,350 | $69,191 | 7.4% | |
| 100 | Cortland, IL | 4,734 | $76,869 | 5.3% |
