If you’ve ever daydreamed about ditching the city for a yard, a dog and a good public school district, you’re not alone—and some Chicago-area suburbs are still getting national recognition for making that dream worthwhile.
U.S. News & World Report just released its 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025–26 list, and while Illinois didn’t dominate the top ranks like its Midwestern neighbors (Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota showed up strong), a handful of suburban Chicagoland towns did make the cut, starting with Arlington Heights at No. 56.
The northwest suburb stood out for its mix of livability factors: a solid job market, reasonable home values and strong quality of life. It’s also back in the spotlight as a possible new home for the Chicago Bears, who own land in the village and have resumed chatter about a stadium move.
Buffalo Grove, another northwest 'burb, ranked No. 63, praised for its safety, parks and family-friendly vibes. Naperville, long a list-topper in these types of rankings, landed at No. 76 this time, while Palatine just cracked the top 100 at No. 80.
Illinois suburbs didn’t climb as high as places like Carmel, Indiana (No. 2) or Rochester Hills, Michigan (No. 9), but they held their own in a competitive field. The U.S. News list is based on surveys and data across five key metrics: quality of life, job market strength, home affordability, education and health care, and local desirability. More than 250 cities were evaluated in total.
Here’s where other Illinois cities landed:
- No. 122: Elgin
- No. 141: Schaumburg
- No. 168: Bloomington
- No. 210: Bolingbrook
- No. 230: Skokie
- No. 240: Des Plaines
So while Chicago proper didn’t make the list, its suburbs continue to offer solid options for those who want a slice of urban-suburban balance—with a side of good schools and backyard barbecues. Did your hometown make the rankings?