Best Counties to Live in Illinois

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Best counties to live in Illinois

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Illinois using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Ogle County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 932
- Population: 51,672
- Median household income: $75,782
- Median home value: $172,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $841 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Mary Morgan Elementary School (grade A), Byron Middle School (grade A), Eswood Community Consolidated Grade School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian School (grade B), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Byron (grade A), Stillman Valley (grade A minus), Oregon (grade B+)

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#29. Brown County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 925
- Population: 6,334
- Median household income: $64,760
- Median home value: $122,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $625 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Brown County Elementary School (grade B), Brown County High School (grade B), Brown County Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mount Sterling (grade B), Mount Sterling Township (grade B+), Lee Township (grade B+)

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#28. Jo Daviess County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 924
- Population: 21,942
- Median household income: $67,729
- Median home value: $179,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $768 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: River Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Galena Middle School (grade A minus), Warren Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Tri-State Christian School (grade B+), St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Galena (grade A minus), East Dubuque (grade B+), The Galena Territory (grade A)

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#27. Clinton County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 904
- Population: 36,998
- Median household income: $78,054
- Median home value: $171,500 (80% own)
- Median rent: $888 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Aviston Elementary School (grade A), Albers Elementary School (grade A), Germantown Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School (grade B), Mater Dei Catholic High School (grade B), All Saints Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Germantown (grade A minus), Trenton (grade A minus), New Baden (grade A minus)

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#26. Winnebago County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 849
- Population: 284,591
- Median household income: $61,738
- Median home value: $146,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $941 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Prairie Hill Elementary School (grade A), Ledgewood Elementary School (grade A), Shirland School District #134 (grade A)
- Top private schools: Keith Country Day School (grade A+), Boylan Catholic High School (grade A minus), Rockford Christian Schools (grade A minus)
- Top places: Rockton (grade A), Roscoe (grade A minus), South Beloit (grade B+)

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#25. Effingham County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 833
- Population: 34,594
- Median household income: $73,181
- Median home value: $166,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $697 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Teutopolis Junior High School (grade A), Teutopolis Grade School (grade A), Teutopolis High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Anthony High School (grade A minus), St. Anthony Elementary School (grade unavailable), Sacred Heart Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Teutopolis (grade A minus), Effingham (grade B+), Teutopolis Township (grade A)

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#24. Johnson County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 798
- Population: 13,313
- Median household income: $63,295
- Median home value: $141,200 (85% own)
- Median rent: $630 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Vienna Grade School (grade A minus), Vienna High School (grade B), New Simpson Hill School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Vienna (grade B+), Buncombe (grade B minus), New Burnside (grade B minus)

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#23. Williamson County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 732
- Population: 67,120
- Median household income: $60,325
- Median home value: $139,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $824 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Carterville High School (grade A minus), Carterville Junior High School (grade A minus), Carterville Intermediate School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School (grade unavailable), Unity Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Carterville (grade A), Crainville (grade A), Energy (grade A minus)

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#22. DeKalb County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 723
- Population: 100,686
- Median household income: $68,617
- Median home value: $218,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,024 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Somonauk Middle School (grade A), Indian Creek Elementary School (grade A minus), W.W. Woodbury Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Aurora Christian Schools Cornerstone Campus (grade B minus), St. Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Mary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sycamore (grade A), Somonauk (grade B+), DeKalb (grade B+)

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#21. McDonough County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 717
- Population: 27,370
- Median household income: $48,904
- Median home value: $100,400 (61% own)
- Median rent: $688 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: West Prairie South Elementary School (grade A minus), Macomb Senior High School (grade B), Macomb Junior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Paul School (grade unavailable), TRINITY ACADEMY (grade unavailable), Calvary Baptist Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Macomb (grade B+), Bushnell (grade C+), Emmet Township (grade A)

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#20. Tazewell County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 687
- Population: 131,276
- Median household income: $74,606
- Median home value: $159,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $850 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Morton Junior High School (grade A), Lincoln Elementary School (grade A), Grundy Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Blessed Sacrament School (grade unavailable), Bethel Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Patrick School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morton (grade A), Washington (grade A), East Peoria (grade B+)

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#19. Adams County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 620
- Population: 65,583
- Median household income: $63,767
- Median home value: $151,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $782 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Dewey Elementary School (grade B+), Liberty Elementary School (grade B+), Monroe Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Quincy Notre Dame High School (grade A minus), St. Peter School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Solanus School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Quincy (grade B+), Riverside Township (grade A minus), Ellington Township (grade A minus)

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#18. Macon County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 615
- Population: 103,542
- Median household income: $59,622
- Median home value: $119,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $774 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Maroa-Forsyth Grade School (grade A minus), Mt. Zion Elementary School (grade A minus), Maroa-Forsyth Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Teresa High School (grade A), Lutheran School Association of Decatur (grade B minus), Holy Family Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Forsyth (grade A), Mount Zion (grade A minus), Long Creek (grade B)

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#17. Piatt County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 555
- Population: 16,698
- Median household income: $81,151
- Median home value: $168,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $917 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: White Heath Elementary School (grade A), Monticello High School (grade A minus), Monticello Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Monticello Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Faith Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Monticello (grade A), Sangamon Township (grade A), Monticello Township (grade A minus)

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#16. Woodford County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 495
- Population: 38,414
- Median household income: $80,093
- Median home value: $186,100 (82% own)
- Median rent: $938 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Congerville Elementary School (grade A), Germantown Hills Middle School (grade A), Germantown Hills Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Countryside Private School (grade unavailable), St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable), Linn Mennonite Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Germantown Hills (grade A), Metamora (grade A), Eureka (grade B+)

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#15. McHenry County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 487
- Population: 311,133
- Median household income: $100,101
- Median home value: $270,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,310 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Cary-Grove Community High School (grade A), Prairie Ridge High School (grade A), Crystal Lake South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Oaks Christian Academy (grade A), Marian Central Catholic High School (grade B+), St. Thomas the Apostle School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Fox River Grove (grade A+), Lakewood (grade A), Crystal Lake (grade A)

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#14. Jackson County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 410
- Population: 53,176
- Median household income: $44,847
- Median home value: $123,400 (48% own)
- Median rent: $757 (52% rent)
- Top public schools: Carbondale Community High School (grade A), Giant City Elementary School (grade A), Unity Point Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School of Carbondale (grade B minus), St. Andrew Catholic School (grade unavailable), Murphysboro Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Carbondale (grade B+), Murphysboro (grade B), Makanda Township (grade A+)

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#13. Madison County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 394
- Population: 265,512
- Median household income: $71,759
- Median home value: $159,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $938 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: St. Jacob Elementary School (grade A), Columbus Elementary School (grade A), Alhambra Primary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Metro-East Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Father McGivney Catholic High School (grade B+), Marquette Catholic High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Glen Carbon (grade A+), Edwardsville (grade A+), Maryville (grade A)

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#12. Kendall County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 346
- Population: 132,795
- Median household income: $106,358
- Median home value: $288,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,695 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Lisbon Grade School (grade A), Oswego East High School (grade A), Bristol Grade School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Yorkville Christian High School (grade B), Parkview Christian Academy (grade C+), Cross Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oswego (grade A), Yorkville (grade A minus), Montgomery (grade B+)

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#11. Monroe County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 309
- Population: 34,905
- Median household income: $100,685
- Median home value: $254,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $956 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Rogers Elementary School (grade A minus), Parkview Elementary School (grade A minus), Gardner Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Gibault Catholic High School (grade B+), Immaculate Conception School (grade unavailable), SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Columbia (grade A), Waterloo (grade A minus), Hecker (grade B+)

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#10. Will County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 289
- Population: 696,774
- Median household income: $103,678
- Median home value: $283,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,342 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Neuqua Valley High School (grade A+), Graham Elementary School (grade A+), Scullen Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Joliet Catholic Academy (grade A), Providence Catholic High School (grade A minus), Illinois Lutheran High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Frankfort (grade A), Plainfield (grade A), Mokena (grade A)

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#9. Peoria County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 288
- Population: 181,186
- Median household income: $63,409
- Median home value: $150,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $909 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Dunlap High School (grade A), Wilder-Waite Elementary School (grade A), Ridgeview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Daarul Uloom Islamic School (grade A+), Peoria Notre Dame High School (grade B+), Peoria Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Dunlap (grade A+), Elmwood (grade A minus), Peoria Heights (grade A minus)

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#8. St. Clair County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 240
- Population: 256,791
- Median household income: $68,915
- Median home value: $158,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,002 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Scott Elementary School (grade A), Mascoutah Middle School (grade A), J. Emmett Hinchcliffe Sr. Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Governor French Academy (grade A+), Althoff Catholic College Preparatory High School (grade A), First Baptist Academy (grade B)
- Top places: O'Fallon (grade A+), Shiloh (grade A), Swansea (grade A)

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#7. Kane County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 232
- Population: 517,254
- Median household income: $96,400
- Median home value: $290,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,335 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (grade A+), St. Charles North High School (grade A+), St. Charles East High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Elgin Academy (grade A+), The Einstein Academy (grade A+), Marmion Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Campton Hills (grade A+), Geneva (grade A+), St. Charles (grade A+)

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#6. Cook County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 220
- Population: 5,225,367
- Median household income: $78,304
- Median home value: $293,700 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,318 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Payton College Preparatory High School (grade A+), Northside College Preparatory High School (grade A+), Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (grade A+), British International School of Chicago, South Loop (grade A+), Roycemore School (grade A+)
- Top places: Evanston (grade A+), Loop (grade A+), Northbrook (grade A+)

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#5. Sangamon County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 212
- Population: 196,122
- Median household income: $71,653
- Median home value: $162,400 (70% own)
- Median rent: $927 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Rochester High School (grade A), Springfield High School (grade A), Glenwood High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Griffin High School (grade A), Lutheran High School (grade B), Calvary Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Leland Grove (grade A+), Chatham (grade A), Sherman (grade A)

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#4. Champaign County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 96
- Population: 206,525
- Median household income: $61,090
- Median home value: $192,600 (54% own)
- Median rent: $977 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Mahomet-Seymour High School (grade A), St. Joseph Middle School (grade A), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Academy High (grade A+), The High School of Saint Thomas More (grade A), Judah Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Savoy (grade A+), Champaign (grade A), Mahomet (grade A)

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#3. McLean County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 73
- Population: 171,284
- Median household income: $75,356
- Median home value: $191,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $941 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Thomas Metcalf School (grade A+), University High School (grade A), Tri-Valley Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Central Catholic High School (grade A minus), Cornerstone Christian Academy of McLean County (grade B+), Calvary Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Normal (grade A), Bloomington (grade A), Downs (grade A)

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#2. Lake County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 37
- Population: 713,159
- Median household income: $104,553
- Median home value: $313,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,382 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Adlai E. Stevenson High School (grade A+), Vernon Hills High School (grade A+), Barrington High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Lake Forest Academy (grade A+), Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Carmel Catholic High School (grade A)
- Top places: Long Grove (grade A+), Buffalo Grove (grade A+), Vernon Hills (grade A+)

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#1. DuPage County, Illinois

- Overall Rank: 11
- Population: 930,559
- Median household income: $107,035
- Median home value: $361,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,551 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Hinsdale Central High School (grade A+), Metea Valley High School (grade A+), Naperville North High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Naperville Christian Academy (grade A+), St. Francis High School (grade A+), Benet Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Naperville (grade A+), Clarendon Hills (grade A+), Hinsdale (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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