Best counties to raise a family in Illinois
Best counties to raise a family in Illinois
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Illinois using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Tazewell County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 130,555
- Median household income: $76,704
- Median home value: $164,500
- Top places to live: Morton (A), Washington (A), East Peoria (B+)
#24. Jo Daviess County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 21,918
- Median household income: $74,954
- Median home value: $193,900
- Top places to live: Galena (A), East Dubuque (B+), The Galena Territory (A)
#23. Henry County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 48,948
- Median household income: $69,912
- Median home value: $145,300
- Top places to live: Geneseo (A-), Colona (B), Kewanee (B-)
#22. Rock Island County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 142,995
- Median household income: $66,768
- Median home value: $144,700
- Top places to live: Port Byron (A-), Moline (A-), Hampton (A-)
#21. Grundy County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 52,920
- Median household income: $93,060
- Median home value: $259,200
- Top places to live: Minooka (B+), Coal City (B+), Morris (B)
#20. Williamson County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 66,902
- Median household income: $65,521
- Median home value: $145,600
- Top places to live: Carterville (A), Crainville (A), Energy (A-)
#19. DeKalb County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 100,512
- Median household income: $69,022
- Median home value: $231,900
- Top places to live: Sycamore (A-), Somonauk (B), Sandwich (B)
#18. Piatt County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 16,702
- Median household income: $87,516
- Median home value: $173,200
- Top places to live: Monticello (A), Sangamon Township (A-), Monticello Township (A-)
#17. Ogle County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 51,536
- Median household income: $79,244
- Median home value: $184,100
- Top places to live: Byron (A), Stillman Valley (A-), Davis Junction (B+)
#16. Winnebago County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 283,289
- Median household income: $64,363
- Median home value: $155,100
- Top places to live: Rockton (A), Roscoe (A-), South Beloit (B+)
#15. Woodford County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 38,348
- Median household income: $85,629
- Median home value: $193,800
- Top places to live: Germantown Hills (A), Metamora (A), Eureka (A-)
#14. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 264,631
- Median household income: $74,800
- Median home value: $167,900
- Top places to live: Edwardsville (A), Glen Carbon (A), Troy (A)
#13. Sangamon County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 195,217
- Median household income: $74,114
- Median home value: $170,300
- Top places to live: Leland Grove (A+), Chatham (A), Rochester (A)
#12. Peoria County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 179,831
- Median household income: $64,938
- Median home value: $152,600
- Top places to live: Dunlap (A+), Elmwood (A-), Peoria Heights (A-)
#11. Champaign County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 206,098
- Median household income: $63,091
- Median home value: $205,100
- Top places to live: Savoy (A+), Champaign (A), Urbana (A)
#10. Monroe County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 34,969
- Median household income: $101,635
- Median home value: $265,600
- Top places to live: Columbia (A), Waterloo (A-), Hecker (B)
#9. McHenry County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 311,366
- Median household income: $102,836
- Median home value: $286,900
- Top places to live: Lakewood (A+), Fox River Grove (A), Crystal Lake (A)
#8. St. Clair County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 254,777
- Median household income: $70,178
- Median home value: $168,800
- Top places to live: O'Fallon (A+), Shiloh (A), Fairview Heights (A)
#7. McLean County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 170,882
- Median household income: $78,329
- Median home value: $198,300
- Top places to live: Normal (A), Bloomington (A), Downs (A)
#6. Cook County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 5,185,812
- Median household income: $81,797
- Median home value: $305,200
- Top places to live: Evanston (A+), Loop (A+), West Loop (A+)
#5. Will County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 698,450
- Median household income: $107,799
- Median home value: $298,000
- Top places to live: Frankfort (A), Plainfield (A), Bolingbrook (A)
#4. Kane County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 516,097
- Median household income: $100,678
- Median home value: $303,000
- Top places to live: Geneva (A+), Campton Hills (A+), Batavia (A+)
#3. Kendall County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 135,053
- Median household income: $110,474
- Median home value: $298,900
- Top places to live: Oswego (A), Yorkville (A-), Plano (B)
#2. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 711,885
- Median household income: $108,917
- Median home value: $326,600
- Top places to live: Vernon Hills (A+), Kildeer (A+), Lincolnshire (A+)
#1. DuPage County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 927,263
- Median household income: $110,502
- Median home value: $374,100
- Top places to live: Naperville (A+), Clarendon Hills (A+), Hinsdale (A+)
