The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois

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

1. 25Smithton, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns

   Smithton is a village of 4,006 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. It also ranks better for families than 89% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 84% of Illinois towns.

   4,006 people · St. Clair County · median home $256,300 · income $135,455 · Jan low 24°F · 12 in snow

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

2. 24Pawnee, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns

   Pawnee is a village of 2,678 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. It also ranks quieter than 82% of Illinois towns and easier by car than 79% of Illinois towns.

   2,678 people · Sangamon County · median home $149,500 · income $81,103 · Jan low 21°F · 14 in snow

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

3. 23Oregon, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns

   Oregon is a city of 3,604 people in Ogle County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 91% of Illinois towns and better transit than 84% of Illinois towns.

   3,604 people · Ogle County · median home $142,600 · income $71,841 · Jan low 13°F · 32 in snow

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

4. 22Rochester, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns

   Rochester is a village of 3,863 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. It also ranks better for families than 96% 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 →

5. 21Metamora, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns

   

   Metamora is a village of 3,904 people in Woodford County, Illinois. It also ranks better for families than 92% 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 →

6. 20Flora, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 91% of Illinois towns

   Flora is a city of 4,803 people in Clay County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Illinois towns.

   4,803 people · Clay County · median home $77,300 · income $47,148 · Jan low 21°F · 12 in snow

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

7. 19Northfield, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 91% of Illinois towns

   Northfield is a village of 5,751 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of Illinois towns and better for cycling than 94% of Illinois towns.

   5,751 people · Cook County · median home $878,300 · income $161,500 · Jan low 16°F · 34 in snow

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

8. 18Geneseo, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 92% of Illinois towns

   Geneseo is a city of 6,539 people in Henry County, Illinois. It also ranks better for cycling than 93% of Illinois towns and hipper than 78% of Illinois towns.

   6,539 people · Henry County · median home $205,400 · income $70,147 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

9. 17Lake Barrington, Illinois

   Better for retirees than 93% of Illinois towns

   Lake Barrington is a village of 5,100 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 87% of Illinois towns.

   5,100 people · Lake County · median home $475,700 · income $141,958 · Jan low 14°F · 43 in snow

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

10. 16Eureka, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 93% of Illinois towns

    Eureka is a city of 5,227 people in Woodford County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 98% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 95% of Illinois towns.

    5,227 people · Woodford County · median home $154,300 · income $56,048 · Jan low 17°F · 21 in snow

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

11. 15Lebanon, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 94% of Illinois towns

    Lebanon is a city of 4,691 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. It also ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 81% of Illinois towns.

    4,691 people · St. Clair County · median home $170,700 · income $88,750 · Jan low 24°F · 11 in snow

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

12. 14Lena, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns

    Lena is a village of 2,772 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. It also ranks better for families than 91% 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 →

13. 13Lake Bluff, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 95% 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 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

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

14. 12Lincolnshire, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 95% of Illinois towns

    

    Lincolnshire is a village of 7,940 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 96% of Illinois towns.

    7,940 people · Lake County · median home $677,700 · income $185,580 · Jan low 18°F · 34 in snow

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

15. 11Trenton, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns

    Trenton is a city of 2,690 people in Clinton County, Illinois. It also ranks better for cycling than 86% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 85% of Illinois towns.

    2,690 people · Clinton County · median home $178,200 · income $80,795 · Jan low 24°F · 10 in snow

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

16. 10Hamilton, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns

    Hamilton is a city of 2,753 people in Hancock County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 99% of Illinois towns.

    2,753 people · Hancock County · median home $114,100 · income $56,895 · Jan low 17°F · 22 in snow

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

17. 9Inverness, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 96% 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 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

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

18. 8Indian Head Park, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns

    Indian Head Park is a village of 4,065 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Illinois towns and more vibrant than 87% of Illinois towns.

    4,065 people · Cook County · median home $356,600 · income $100,149 · Jan low 15°F · 42 in snow

    Full Indian Head Park, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Palos Park, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns

    Palos Park is a village of 4,899 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more upscale than 93% of Illinois towns and better transit than 84% of Illinois towns.

    4,899 people · Cook County · median home $464,700 · income $121,696 · Jan low 15°F · 39 in snow

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

20. 6Mount Morris, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns

    Mount Morris is a village of 2,861 people in Ogle County, Illinois. The median home is worth $121,800 (typical Illinois town: $156,600).

    2,861 people · Ogle County · median home $121,800 · income $45,726 · Jan low 13°F · 32 in snow

    Full Mount Morris, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5South Jacksonville, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns

    South Jacksonville is a village of 3,302 people in Morgan County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 92% of Illinois towns.

    3,302 people · Morgan County · median home $135,800 · income $49,587 · Jan low 18°F · 16 in snow

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

22. 4Fairbury, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns

    Fairbury is a city of 3,633 people in Livingston County, Illinois. It also ranks better for cycling than 93% of Illinois towns and easier by car than 80% of Illinois towns.

    3,633 people · Livingston County · median home $162,200 · income $70,962 · Jan low 15°F · 14 in snow

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

23. 3Green Oaks, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns

    Green Oaks is a village of 4,128 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 95% of Illinois towns.

    4,128 people · Lake County · median home $673,100 · income $147,614 · Jan low 16°F · 43 in snow

    Full Green Oaks, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Monticello, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns

    Monticello is a city of 5,941 people in Piatt County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 90% of Illinois towns and better for families than 82% of Illinois towns.

    5,941 people · Piatt County · median home $210,500 · income $99,449 · Jan low 17°F · 18 in snow

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

25. 1Galena, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns

    Galena is a city of 3,308 people in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 99% of Illinois towns and quieter than 93% of Illinois towns.

    3,308 people · Jo Daviess County · median home $233,200 · income $58,689 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

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

Price vs ranking

More Illinois rankings

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• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families 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

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