Best small towns to live in Illinois

1. 1
   Warren, IL Score 80/100

   1,396 people · typical home $102k · household income $76k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 21% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Lanark, IL Score 78/100

   1,541 people · typical home $97k · household income $59k · 4 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 18 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Milledgeville, IL Score 77/100

   1,218 people · typical home $94k · household income $59k · 4 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of IL · 5.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Carthage, IL Score 77/100

   2,291 people · typical home $113k · household income $77k · 17 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 50% of IL · 1.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Virginia, IL Score 74/100

   1,543 people · typical home $93k · household income $59k · 23 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of IL · 4.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Sumner, IL Score 72/100

   2,252 people · typical home $46k · household income $56k · 26 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 28% of IL · 18.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Germantown, IL Score 71/100

   1,350 people · typical home $193k · household income $92k · 25 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 11% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Newton, IL Score 71/100

   2,932 people · typical home $95k · household income $62k · 84 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Pana, IL Score 69/100

   5,217 people · typical home $78k · household income $46k · 35 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of IL · 6.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Flora, IL Score 68/100

    4,475 people · typical home $77k · household income $47k · 140 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 17% of IL · 4.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    McLeansboro, IL Score 68/100

    2,675 people · typical home $80k · household income $45k · 155 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Red Bud, IL Score 68/100

    3,782 people · typical home $171k · household income $72k · 24 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Chester, IL Score 68/100

    6,797 people · typical home $112k · household income $81k · 50 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 48% of IL · 5.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Savanna, IL Score 67/100

    2,816 people · typical home $72k · household income $48k · 6 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 76% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Stockton, IL Score 67/100

    1,873 people · typical home $94k · household income $47k · 30 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 15% of IL · 4.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Walnut, IL Score 67/100

    1,282 people · typical home $102k · household income $62k · 40 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 34% of IL · 4.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Goreville, IL Score 67/100

    1,236 people · typical home $131k · household income $69k · 44 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 46% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Jonesboro, IL Score 66/100

    1,870 people · typical home $106k · household income $59k · 71 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Shelbyville, IL Score 66/100

    4,351 people · typical home $116k · household income $52k · 63 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 13% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Barry, IL Score 66/100

    1,512 people · typical home $93k · household income $76k · 97 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 35% of IL · 5.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Ramsey, IL Score 64/100

    1,094 people · typical home $66k · household income $53k · 206 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Altamont, IL Score 64/100

    2,282 people · typical home $130k · household income $76k · 89 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 39% of IL · 1.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Carlyle, IL Score 64/100

    2,980 people · typical home $155k · household income $77k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Sullivan, IL Score 64/100

    4,348 people · typical home $103k · household income $63k · 117 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 49% of IL · 2.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Mount Carroll, IL Score 63/100

    1,501 people · typical home $87k · household income $59k · 4 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 76% of IL · 3.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Illinois with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Illinois on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Illinois districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Illinois →