A leafy village on the outskirts of Chicago is the country’s most popular suburb, according to a new ranking that puts a premium on prosperity.
The city of Western Springs beat out 29 others to secure the top spot on GOBankingRates’ list, which also includes a runner-up from the Chicago area.
The southwestern suburb has a population of 13,557 people and a median household income of $276,402 – well above the national average.
Similarly, the median value of a single-family home is $763,060, according to the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development – nearly double the median home price in the United States of $495,100.
It is hidden between Hinsdale and La Grange, 15 miles from the city center.
The city of Western Springs beat out 29 others to secure the top spot on GOBankingRates’ list, which also includes a runner-up from the Chicago area.
The list is titled “The 30 Safest and Richest Liveable Cities in the U.S. in 2024,” but does not include “budget friendliness” as a factor to consider.
Instead, it looked at small towns that are considered the safest and wealthiest, and instead identified several suburbs in cities like San Francisco and Boston.
To create this report, the website looked at a number of data points, such as average household income, total population, number of households, cost of living and crime rate in each community considered.
No. 1 grew up as Western Springs, an affluent suburb named after its now-dry mineral deposits in the city’s southwest.
The area on which the town sits is full of trees and quaint homes and was once mostly prairies and swamps when many of the early residents were Quakers.
The water-rich spring dried up in 1890, a few decades after the town was founded, and the village was forced to commission engineers to build a waterworks. The result is the now famous water tower from 1893.
Sights include the famous water tower, which was originally built from stone over a hundred years ago
The southwestern suburb has a population of 13,557 people and a median household income of $276,402. Likewise, the median value of a single-family home was $763,060 – well above the national average.
.It is nestled between Hinsdale and La Grange, 15 miles from Downtown Chicago
Built of Naperville stone, it stands 112 feet tall and became a museum in 1970. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
In addition, a number of other symbolic additions were built over the years, including a fire station, an electricity plant, a park and a library (1926).
The village was expanded several times in 192, 1955, 1973, and 2005, bringing the total area to 2.79 square miles according to the U.S. Census.
If you live near a metropolitan area without the crime associated with a more urban environment, this little-known community is your best bet, according to the website.
Second place, meanwhile, belonged to Kenilworth, located on the north shore of Lake Chicago.
The average median household income there is only $437,822, but is still well above the national median household income of $75,000.
The average price for a single-family home there is $1,768,606 – a hefty price tag for most homebuyers.
This number is also more than double that of the city a few miles away that took first place. However, factors such as safety and its location on Lake Michigan helped this city secure its spot.
The cost of living in the city was more similar to that of Winnetka, a northern suburb next to Kenilworth, which also made it to number 5 on the list.
In this Chicago suburb, the median household income is $458,988, with the average single-family home value being $1,623,361.
The community is home to the world-famous home from “Home Alone,” which was recently sold for over $5 million.
Another Midwestern city is also high on the list: Ottawa Hills, Ohio, ranks 6th.
Two Boston suburbs completed the top five – Lexington and Winchester.
Ridgewood, New Jersey, came in seventh due to its proximity to New York City, while another Boston enclave in Wellesley came in eighth.
Westfield, New Jersey, near New York, came in ninth place and the small town of Ross north of San Francisco came in tenth.
In addition, seven of these 30 cities from California and Massachusetts were represented, and well-known cities such as Cupertino were also represented.
Second place went to Kenilworth, which is located on the north shore of Lake Chicago. Unlike Western Springs, it is located directly on Lake Michigan and has a significantly higher cost of living.
Chicago’s current crime rate has contributed to the popularity of its comparatively quieter suburbs, many of which are connected to the city by rail.
Six of the cities were in New Jersey, all in the northern part of the state near New York,
Notably, the median household income in none of the cities was below $251,210, nearly four times the national average.
Perhaps most surprising, however, was the fact that four of the cities – including three in the top five – were satellite cities of Chicago.
The Chicago metropolitan area represents about three percent of the total U.S. population and is home to 31 Fortune 500 companies.
Companies such as McDonald’s, United Air Lines and Blue Cross Blue Shield have moved there in recent years and have helped the metropolis establish itself as a top location for corporate relocation.
The area is also home to numerous universities, including the University of Chicago and Northeastern University, both of which are regularly ranked among the best universities in the United States.
In addition, the Chicago Transit Authority connects several of these suburbs to the city day and night, every day of the year.
Chicago’s current crime rate, meanwhile, has contributed to the popularity of its comparatively quieter suburbs.
