A leafy village on the outskirts of Chicago is the nation’s best suburb, according to a new ranking that puts prosperity first.
The city of Western Springs beat out 29 other cities to take first place in GOBankingRates‘ list, which also included a second place in the Chicago region.
The southwestern suburb has a population of 13,557 people and the median household income is $276,402, which is well above the national average.
The median value of single-family homes was $763,060, nearly double the U.S. median home price of $495,100, according to the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
It is tucked between Hinsdale and La Grange, 15 miles from the city center.
The city of Western Springs beat out 29 other cities to take the top spot on GOBankingRates’ list, which also included a second-place finish for the Chicago region
The list, billed as “The 30 Safest, Richest U.S. Cities to Live in 2024,” did not include “budget-friendliness” as a factor to consider.
Instead, they looked to small towns that were considered the safest and wealthiest. Instead, several suburbs sprang up in cities like San Francisco and Boston.
To compile the report, the website looked at several data points, including median household income, total population, number of households, cost of living and crime rate in each community studied.
Number 1 surfaced as Western Springs, an affluent suburb named for the now-dried mineral deposits on the city’s southwest side.
The area on which the city stands is full of trees and picturesque homes and once consisted of a great deal of prairie and swamp. Many of the first settlers were Quakers.
The original spring dried up in 1890, several decades after the village was founded. This forced the village to hire engineers to build a new water system. This resulted in the now famous water tower, originally built in 1893.
Sights include the famous water tower, originally built of stone over a hundred years ago
The southwestern suburb has a population of 13,557 people and an average household median income of $276,402. Likewise, the median value of single-family homes was $763,060 – well above the national average
It is located between Hinsdale and La Grange, 15 miles from downtown Chicago.
Built of Naperville stone, it stands 111 feet (34 m) tall and became a museum in 1970. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Over the years, many more iconic buildings have been added, including a fire station, a power plant, a park and a library (1926).
The village has been expanded several times with additional buildings in 192, 1955, 1973 and 2005. According to the US census, the total area now is 2.79 square miles.
If you live near a downtown area without the crime typical of an urban environment, this lesser-known community is the best option, according to the website.
Second place went to Kenilworth, located on Chicago’s North Shore.
The average median household income there is $437,822, which is still well above the national real median household income of $75,000.
There, the average single-family home costs $1,768,606, a hefty price for most home buyers.
The number is also more than twice as high as the city a few miles away that was ranked number one. Factors such as safety and its location on Lake Michigan helped secure the spot.
The city’s cost of living was comparable to that of Winnetka, a northern suburb next to Kenilworth, which also ranked No. 5.
In that Chicago suburb, the median household income is $458,988, while the median value of single-family homes is $1,623,361.
This neighborhood is home to the world-famous Home Alone house, which recently sold for over $5 million.
There’s another Midwestern city on the list, and it also ranks high: Ottawa Hills, Ohio, comes in at No. 6.
Two Boston suburbs rounded out the top five: Lexington and Winchester.
Ridgewood, New Jersey, came in seventh — due to its proximity to New York City — while Wellesley, another Boston enclave, finished eighth.
Westfield, New Jersey, near New York, finished in ninth place, and the small town of Ross, just north of San Francisco, took tenth place.
Additionally, seven of these 30 cities were represented by cities from California and Massachusetts, with notable beehives like Cupertino.
Meanwhile, second place went to Kenilworth, located on Chicago’s north shore on the lake. Unlike Western Springs, it is right on Lake Michigan and the cost of living is much higher.
Ridgewood, New Jersey, came in seventh, largely due to its proximity to New York City
The city of Ross, just north of San Francisco, rounded out the top 10. It has a population of just 2,000
Chicago’s current crime rate has contributed to the popularity of its relatively quieter suburbs, many of which are connected to the city by train.
Six of the towns were in New Jersey, all in the northern part of the state, near New York,
Notably, in no city was the median household income lower than $251,210, which is nearly four times the national average.
Perhaps most surprising was that four of the cities—including three in the top five—were satellite cities of Chicago.
The Chicago metropolitan area is home to approximately 3 percent of the total U.S. population and is home to 31 Fortune 500 company headquarters.
Companies such as McDonald’s, United Air Lines and Blue Cross Blue Shield have moved there in recent years, making the metropolitan area the top location for corporate relocations.
The region is also home to several universities, including the University of Chicago and Northeastern University, both of which are regularly ranked among the best in the US.
The Chicago Transit Authority also connects some of these suburbs to the city, day and night, every day of the year.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s current crime rate has contributed to the relatively quieter suburbs becoming more popular.