The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Illinois

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

1. 25Madison, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Illinois towns

   Madison is a city of 3,171 people in Madison County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 90% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 89% of Illinois towns.

   3,171 people · Madison County · median home $58,900 · income $49,326 · Jan low 24°F · 13 in snow

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

2. 24Posen, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Illinois towns

   Posen is a village of 5,632 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 94% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 92% of Illinois towns.

   5,632 people · Cook County · median home $172,900 · income $73,051 · Jan low 20°F · 39 in snow

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

3. 23Rosewood Heights, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns

   Rosewood Heights is a community of 3,971 people in Madison County, Illinois. It also ranks more vibrant than 71% of Illinois towns and hipper than 71% of Illinois towns.

   3,971 people · Madison County · median home $137,300 · income $72,102 · Jan low 22°F · 11 in snow

   Full Rosewood Heights, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22South Chicago Heights, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns

   South Chicago Heights is a village of 4,026 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 92% of Illinois towns and better transit than 91% of Illinois towns.

   4,026 people · Cook County · median home $149,300 · income $58,691 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

   Full South Chicago Heights, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Hometown, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns

   Hometown is a city of 4,343 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 100% of Illinois towns and better transit than 99% of Illinois towns.

   4,343 people · Cook County · median home $173,400 · income $61,101 · Jan low 20°F · 39 in snow

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

6. 20Robbins, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns

   Robbins is a village of 4,629 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 96% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 89% of Illinois towns.

   4,629 people · Cook County · median home $121,300 · income $40,668 · Jan low 20°F · 39 in snow

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

7. 19Peoria Heights, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns

   Peoria Heights is a village of 5,908 people in Peoria County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 98% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 92% of Illinois towns.

   5,908 people · Peoria County · median home $117,700 · income $60,099 · Jan low 18°F · 26 in snow

   Full Peoria Heights, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Le Roy, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Illinois towns

   Le Roy is a city of 3,512 people in McLean County, Illinois. It also ranks better for young professionals than 76% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 76% of Illinois towns.

   3,512 people · McLean County · median home $167,600 · income $81,875 · Jan low 16°F · 15 in snow

   Full Le Roy, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Lawrenceville, Illinois

   Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Illinois towns

   

   Lawrenceville is a city of 4,164 people in Lawrence County, Illinois. It also ranks hipper than 95% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 90% of Illinois towns.

   4,164 people · Lawrence County · median home $71,300 · income $41,005 · Jan low 21°F · 16 in snow

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

10. 16Cortland, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Illinois towns

    Cortland is a town of 4,398 people in DeKalb County, Illinois. It also ranks better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 88% of Illinois towns.

    4,398 people · DeKalb County · median home $233,200 · income $73,971 · Jan low 13°F · 33 in snow

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

11. 15Orland Hills, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Illinois towns

    Orland Hills is a village of 6,893 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks more walkable than 94% of Illinois towns and more vibrant than 91% of Illinois towns.

    6,893 people · Cook County · median home $280,300 · income $122,039 · Jan low 15°F · 31 in snow

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

12. 14Hoopeston, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns

    

    Hoopeston is a city of 4,915 people in Vermilion County, Illinois. It also ranks better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 81% of Illinois towns.

    4,915 people · Vermilion County · median home $78,100 · income $60,861 · Jan low 18°F · 20 in snow

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

13. 13University Park, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns

    University Park is a village of 7,145 people in Will County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 88% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 85% of Illinois towns.

    7,145 people · Will County · median home $153,200 · income $73,844 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

14. 12Park City, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns

    Park City is a city of 7,885 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks better for young professionals than 94% of Illinois towns and more vibrant than 94% of Illinois towns.

    7,885 people · Lake County · median home $57,400 · income $60,171 · Jan low 16°F · 41 in snow

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

15. 11Sauk Village, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns

    Sauk Village is a village of 9,921 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better for young professionals than 89% of Illinois towns and better transit than 86% of Illinois towns.

    9,921 people · Cook County · median home $110,800 · income $69,973 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

    Full Sauk Village, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Venetian Village, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Illinois towns

    Venetian Village is a community of 2,761 people in Lake County, Illinois. It also ranks more of a college town than 88% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 77% of Illinois towns.

    2,761 people · Lake County · median home $231,100 · income $79,273 · Jan low 15°F · 43 in snow

    Full Venetian Village, Illinois profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Monee, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Illinois towns

    Monee is a village of 5,128 people in Will County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 75% of Illinois towns and quieter than 72% of Illinois towns.

    5,128 people · Will County · median home $240,500 · income $91,969 · Jan low 15°F · 29 in snow

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

18. 8Wonder Lake, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Illinois towns

    Wonder Lake is a village of 3,973 people in McHenry County, Illinois. It also ranks better for families than 85% of Illinois towns and more of a college town than 77% of Illinois towns.

    3,973 people · McHenry County · median home $252,200 · income $94,655 · Jan low 13°F · 35 in snow

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

19. 7Crete, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Illinois towns

    Crete is a village of 8,465 people in Will County, Illinois. The median home is worth $228,500 (typical Illinois town: $156,600).

    8,465 people · Will County · median home $228,500 · income $97,147 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

20. 6Steger, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Illinois towns

    

    Steger is a village of 9,584 people in Will County, Illinois. It also ranks more walkable than 91% of Illinois towns and better for cycling than 81% of Illinois towns.

    9,584 people · Will County · median home $156,700 · income $66,575 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

21. 5Dixmoor, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of Illinois towns

    Dixmoor is a village of 2,973 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 95% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 83% of Illinois towns.

    2,973 people · Cook County · median home $84,400 · income $44,600 · Jan low 20°F · 39 in snow

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

22. 4Flossmoor, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of Illinois towns

    Flossmoor is a village of 9,704 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 95% of Illinois towns and more upscale than 93% of Illinois towns.

    9,704 people · Cook County · median home $344,800 · income $133,663 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

23. 3Calumet Park, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Illinois towns

    Calumet Park is a village of 7,025 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 100% of Illinois towns and more walkable than 97% of Illinois towns.

    7,025 people · Cook County · median home $184,700 · income $53,556 · Jan low 20°F · 39 in snow

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

24. 2Glenwood, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Illinois towns

    Glenwood is a village of 8,662 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 94% of Illinois towns and better for young professionals than 87% of Illinois towns.

    8,662 people · Cook County · median home $198,100 · income $77,391 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

25. 1Lynwood, Illinois

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Illinois towns

    Lynwood is a village of 9,116 people in Cook County, Illinois. It also ranks better transit than 79% of Illinois towns.

    9,116 people · Cook County · median home $218,000 · income $85,237 · Jan low 15°F · 28 in snow

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

Price vs ranking

More Illinois rankings

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• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Illinois
• 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 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters

Same ranking, other places

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