The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Illinois

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 238 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Illinois. #1 is Deer Park, IL.

1. 25Fox Lake Hills, Illinois

   Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

   2,684 people · Lake County · median home $245,000 · income $111,964 · Jan low 15°F · 43 in snow

2. 24Lena, Illinois

   Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

   2,772 people · Stephenson County · median home $146,000 · income $72,663 · Jan low 12°F · 36 in snow

3. 23Heyworth, Illinois

   Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

   2,791 people · McLean County · median home $210,600 · income $96,500 · Jan low 16°F · 13 in snow

4. 22North Barrington, Illinois

   Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

   3,171 people · Lake County · median home $765,900 · income $226,055 · Jan low 14°F · 43 in snow

5. 21Sherman, Illinois

   Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

   4,673 people · Sangamon County · median home $297,800 · income $148,906 · Jan low 20°F · 21 in snow

6. 20Mahomet, Illinois

   Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

   9,434 people · Champaign County · median home $299,100 · income $118,586 · Jan low 17°F · 17 in snow

7. 19Metamora, Illinois

   Better for families than 92% of Illinois towns

   3,904 people · Woodford County · median home $201,800 · income $129,479 · Jan low 17°F · 21 in snow

8. 18Davis Junction, Illinois

   Better for families than 93% of Illinois towns

   2,512 people · Ogle County · median home $205,500 · income $107,833 · Jan low 15°F · 37 in snow

9. 17Inverness, Illinois

   Better for families than 93% of Illinois towns

   7,616 people · Cook County · median home $715,600 · income $207,434 · Jan low 13°F · 39 in snow

10. 16Fox River Grove, Illinois

    Better for families than 94% of Illinois towns

    4,702 people · McHenry County · median home $298,900 · income $121,506 · Jan low 13°F · 39 in snow

11. 15Forsyth, Illinois

    Better for families than 95% of Illinois towns

    3,734 people · Macon County · median home $281,000 · income $112,000 · Jan low 20°F · 14 in snow

12. 14Rochester, Illinois

    Better for families than 96% of Illinois towns

    3,863 people · Sangamon County · median home $238,900 · income $117,118 · Jan low 19°F · 19 in snow

13. 13Lakewood, Illinois

    Better for families than 96% of Illinois towns

    4,283 people · McHenry County · median home $552,600 · income $173,625 · Jan low 14°F · 35 in snow

14. 12Frankfort Square, Illinois

    Better for families than 96% of Illinois towns

    8,968 people · Will County · median home $305,800 · income $126,897 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

15. 11St. Joseph, Illinois

    Better for families than 97% of Illinois towns

    3,810 people · Champaign County · median home $270,900 · income $120,789 · Jan low 18°F · 25 in snow

16. 10Manhattan, Illinois

    Better for families than 97% of Illinois towns

    9,385 people · Will County · median home $332,600 · income $128,522 · Jan low 17°F · 17 in snow

17. 9Kildeer, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    4,091 people · Lake County · median home $770,700 · income $250,001 · Jan low 14°F · 43 in snow

18. 8South Barrington, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    5,077 people · Cook County · median home $908,300 · income $221,575 · Jan low 13°F · 39 in snow

19. 7Lake Bluff, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    5,616 people · Lake County · median home $776,700 · income $204,000 · Jan low 16°F · 39 in snow

20. 6Glencoe, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    8,849 people · Cook County · median home $1,432,500 · income $248,933 · Jan low 16°F · 34 in snow

21. 5Germantown Hills, Illinois

    Better for families than 99% of Illinois towns

    3,412 people · Woodford County · median home $264,900 · income $147,341 · Jan low 18°F · 22 in snow

22. 4Millstadt, Illinois

    Better for families than 99% of Illinois towns

    4,071 people · St. Clair County · median home $230,500 · income $90,901 · Jan low 24°F · 9 in snow

23. 3Hawthorn Woods, Illinois

    Better for families than 99% of Illinois towns

    9,062 people · Lake County · median home $619,100 · income $219,631 · Jan low 14°F · 43 in snow

24. 2Kenilworth, Illinois

    Better for families than 100% of Illinois towns

    2,514 people · Cook County · median home $1,560,300 · income $250,001 · Jan low 16°F · 34 in snow

25. 1Deer Park, Illinois

    Better for families than 100% of Illinois towns

    3,681 people · Lake County · median home $661,300 · income $174,458 · Jan low 13°F · 39 in snow

Price vs ranking

More Illinois rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Illinois
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
• The 16 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
• 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Illinois
• 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois
• The 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio