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Best Cities in Illinois (2026)
Top cities in Illinois by composite livability score.
Minimum population: 25,000
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| #↑ | City | Population | Score | Med. Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | 149,089 | 88 | $143,754 | |
| 🥈 | 78,788 | 81 | $73,119 | |
| 🥉 | EvanstonIL | 77,181 | 78 | $93,188 |
| 4 | 77,571 | 76 | $92,818 | |
| 5 | 88,628 | 69 | $58,273 | |
| 6 | ElginIL | 114,190 | 67 | $85,998 |
| 7 | AuroraIL | 181,405 | 63 | $85,943 |
| 8 | JolietIL | 150,221 | 63 | $84,971 |
| 9 | ChicagoIL | 2,721,914 | 62 | $71,673 |
| 10 | WaukeganIL | 89,435 | 60 | $66,077 |
| 11 | 114,214 | 58 | $62,419 | |
| 12 | PeoriaIL | 113,054 | 55 | $58,068 |
| 13 | CiceroIL | 84,189 | 51 | $64,325 |
| 14 | RockfordIL | 148,173 | 44 | $50,744 |
About This Ranking
Top cities in Illinois by composite livability score.
Calculated using Top City Reports's proprietary scoring methodology.
Cities must have a population of at least 25,000.