The Town Files

The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Illinois

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

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Numbers match the ranking.
The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Illinois1. Deer Park100th pct2. Kenilworth100th pct3. Hawthorn Woods99th pct4. Millstadt99th pct5. Germantown Hills99th pct6. Glencoe98th pct7. Lake Bluff98th pct8. South Barrington98th pct9. Kildeer98th pct10. Manhattan97th pct11. St. Joseph97th pct12. Frankfort Square96th pct13. Lakewood96th pct14. Rochester96th pct15. Forsyth95th pct16. Fox River Grove94th pct17. Inverness93rd pct18. Davis Junction93rd pct19. Metamora92nd pct20. Mahomet91st pct21. Sherman91st pct22. North Barrington91st pct23. Heyworth91st pct24. Lena91st pct25. Fox Lake Hills91st pct
  1. 25Fox Lake Hills, Illinois

    Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

    Fox Lake Hills is a community of 2,684 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 88% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 80% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Fox Lake Hills, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Fox Lake Hills lifestyle rankingsFamilies91th pctQuiet27th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability64th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  2. 24Lena, Illinois

    Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

    Lena is a village of 2,772 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. It also ranks better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns and quieter than 75% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Lena, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Lena lifestyle rankingsFamilies91th pctQuiet75th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability48th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  3. 23Heyworth, Illinois

    Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

    Heyworth, Illinois
    Photo: Troy Semple (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Heyworth is a village of 2,791 people in McLean County, Illinois. It also ranks easier by car than 98% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 85% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Heyworth, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Heyworth lifestyle rankingsFamilies91th pctQuiet58th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability8th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  4. 22North Barrington, Illinois

    Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

    North Barrington is a village of 3,171 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of Illinois towns and better for retirees than 87% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full North Barrington, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    North Barrington lifestyle rankingsFamilies91th pctQuiet47th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability48th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  5. 21Sherman, Illinois

    Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

    Sherman is a village of 4,673 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 91% of Illinois towns and easier by car than 80% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Sherman, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Sherman lifestyle rankingsFamilies91th pctQuiet68th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability16th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  6. 20Mahomet, Illinois

    Better for families than 91% of Illinois towns

    Mahomet is a village of 9,434 people in Champaign County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of Illinois towns and better for cycling than 82% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Mahomet, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Mahomet lifestyle rankingsFamilies91th pctQuiet28th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability17th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  7. 19Metamora, Illinois

    Better for families than 92% of Illinois towns

    Metamora, Illinois
    Photo: ProfDEH (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Metamora is a village of 3,904 people in Woodford County, Illinois. It also ranks better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 86% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Metamora, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Metamora lifestyle rankingsFamilies92th pctQuiet69th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability25th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  8. 18Davis Junction, Illinois

    Better for families than 93% of Illinois towns

    Davis Junction is a village of 2,512 people in Ogle County, Illinois. It also ranks easier by car than 85% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Davis Junction, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Davis Junction lifestyle rankingsFamilies93th pctQuiet51th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability32th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  9. 17Inverness, Illinois

    Better for families than 93% of Illinois towns

    Inverness is a village of 7,616 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of Illinois towns and better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Inverness, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Inverness lifestyle rankingsFamilies93th pctQuiet42th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability69th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  10. 16Fox River Grove, Illinois

    Better for families than 94% of Illinois towns

    Fox River Grove, Illinois
    Photo: Smallbones (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Fox River Grove is a village of 4,702 people in McHenry County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 93% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Fox River Grove, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Fox River Grove lifestyle rankingsFamilies94th pctQuiet43th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability71th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  11. 15Forsyth, Illinois

    Better for families than 95% of Illinois towns

    Forsyth is a village of 3,734 people in Macon County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 82% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Forsyth, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Forsyth lifestyle rankingsFamilies95th pctQuiet35th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability9th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  12. 14Rochester, Illinois

    Better for families than 96% of Illinois towns

    Rochester is a village of 3,863 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. It also ranks better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 90% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Rochester, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Rochester lifestyle rankingsFamilies96th pctQuiet86th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability7th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  13. 13Lakewood, Illinois

    Better for families than 96% of Illinois towns

    Lakewood is a village of 4,283 people in McHenry County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 88% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Lakewood, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Lakewood lifestyle rankingsFamilies96th pctQuiet24th pctFirst-time buyers43th pctWalkability28th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  14. 12Frankfort Square, Illinois

    Better for families than 96% of Illinois towns

    Frankfort Square is a community of 8,968 people in Will County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Illinois towns and better for first-time buyers than 89% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Frankfort Square, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Frankfort Square lifestyle rankingsFamilies96th pctQuiet17th pctFirst-time buyers89th pctWalkability70th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  15. 11St. Joseph, Illinois

    Better for families than 97% of Illinois towns

    St. Joseph, Illinois
    Photo: User:Onemessedzebra (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    St. Joseph is a village of 3,810 people in Champaign County, Illinois. It also ranks better for cycling than 92% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 84% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full St. Joseph, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    St. Joseph lifestyle rankingsFamilies97th pctQuiet38th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability76th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  16. 10Manhattan, Illinois

    Better for families than 97% of Illinois towns

    Manhattan is a village of 9,385 people in Will County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 78% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 77% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Manhattan, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Manhattan lifestyle rankingsFamilies97th pctQuiet42th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability43th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  17. 9Kildeer, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    Kildeer is a village of 4,091 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 91% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Kildeer, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Kildeer lifestyle rankingsFamilies98th pctQuiet43th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability50th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  18. 8South Barrington, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    South Barrington is a village of 5,077 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 79% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full South Barrington, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    South Barrington lifestyle rankingsFamilies98th pctQuiet62th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability53th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  19. 7Lake Bluff, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    Lake Bluff is a village of 5,616 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns and better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Lake Bluff, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Lake Bluff lifestyle rankingsFamilies98th pctQuiet31th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability53th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  20. 6Glencoe, Illinois

    Better for families than 98% of Illinois towns

    Glencoe is a village of 8,849 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Illinois towns and better transit than 94% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Glencoe, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Glencoe lifestyle rankingsFamilies98th pctQuiet25th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability93th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  21. 5Germantown Hills, Illinois

    Better for families than 99% of Illinois towns

    Germantown Hills is a village of 3,412 people in Woodford County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 95% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 94% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Germantown Hills, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Germantown Hills lifestyle rankingsFamilies99th pctQuiet40th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability40th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  22. 4Millstadt, Illinois

    Better for families than 99% of Illinois towns

    Millstadt is a village of 4,071 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. It also ranks easier by car than 81% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 80% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Millstadt, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Millstadt lifestyle rankingsFamilies99th pctQuiet78th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability43th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  23. 3Hawthorn Woods, Illinois

    Better for families than 99% of Illinois towns

    Hawthorn Woods is a village of 9,062 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 82% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Hawthorn Woods, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Hawthorn Woods lifestyle rankingsFamilies99th pctQuiet52th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability44th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  24. 2Kenilworth, Illinois

    Better for families than 100% of Illinois towns

    Kenilworth, Illinois
    Photo: architect George W. Maher, photographer Henry Fuerman (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Kenilworth is a village of 2,514 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Illinois towns and more upscale 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

    Full Kenilworth, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Kenilworth lifestyle rankingsFamilies100th pctQuiet6th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability98th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.
  25. 1Deer Park, Illinois

    Better for families than 100% of Illinois towns

    Deer Park is a village of 3,681 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 86% of Illinois towns.

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

    Full Deer Park, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Deer Park lifestyle rankingsFamilies100th pctQuiet26th pctFirst-time buyers0th pctWalkability52th pct
    The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs Illinois towns.

Price vs ranking

Median home value vs ranking, Illinois towns0255075100$38K$231K$424K$617K$811KMedian home valuePercentile
Orange squares are the 25 towns on this list; green dots are other towns on The Town Files in Illinois.

More Illinois rankings

Same ranking, other places

Methodology. We ranked 238 towns of 500–10,000 people in Illinois (2020 Census population). Lifestyle measures are The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025), shown as percentiles. Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: