5 Illinois cities named among ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025’
Five Illinois cities were recently named among the ”Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025” by online publication Livability, which ranks small- to medium-sized cities.
The Livability list did not rank the top 100 cities numerically, but did give each city a quality of life score. You can filter the list by region, population and median home value.
Livability considered factors such as economic data, cost of living, amenities, walkability, environment, safety, education and health to score the cities, including about 100 data points in total. The publication cited “a variety of public and private data” as sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Postal Service, satellite imagery, business establishment files and more.
Bloomington, about 66 miles north of Springfield, was named in the ranking. The city received a quality of life score of 727 out of 1,000, performing particularly well for housing and cost of living, transportation and education.
Champaign, about 85 miles northeast of Springfield, received a quality of life score of 655. Livability highlighted Champaign’s housing and cost of living, transportation and education.
Peoria’s quality of life score was slightly below Champaign’s, at 651. The city, located about 39 miles northwest of Bloomington, was recognized for its housing and cost of living, amenities and transportation.
Naperville, about 33 miles west of Chicago, also made the cut with a quality of life score of 841. Naperville’s top-performing categories contributing to its inclusion on the list and high livability score included health, education and safety, according to Livability.
Evanston, about 15 miles north of Chicago, was another Illinois city lauded by Livability, with a quality of life score of 759 out of 1,000. The city’s health metrics, amenities and economy stood out.
Along with the five Illinois cities, St. Louis was also named in the top 100 list. The city received a livability score of 636, and it scored particularly well for amenities, housing and cost of living and economy. Livability highlighted St. Louis’ many free attractions, such as the Saint Louis Zoo and Saint Louis Art Museum, as well as its cost of living, which is slightly lower than the national average.
Here’s what else to know about each of the five Land of Lincoln locales and why Livability considers them top places to live.
Bloomington
Population: 78,694
Median household income: $108,649
Median home value: $195,487
Median monthly rent: $799
Average commute time: 13 minutes
Livability described Bloomington as having a “strong economy, excellent schools and a thriving arts scene.”
Popular Bloomington attractions featured in Livability’s ranking of the city include the McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and Miller Park Zoo.
Champaign
Population: 89,721
Median household income: $87,780
Median home value: $199,871
Median monthly rent: $848
Average commute time: 13 minutes
Champaign may be best-known as a college town — the city is home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which is ranked the 33rd best university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
There’s more to do in Champaign than study, however. Middle Fork River Forest Preserve offers opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, and you can also browse the city’s downtown district and peek in Jane Addams Book Shop or The Idea Store.
Peoria
Population: 112,369
Median household income: $96,577
Median home value: $151,100
Median monthly rent: $695
Average commute time: 16 minutes
Peoria offers the perfect balance of “natural beauty and Midwestern charm,” Livability says. The city offers plenty to do, such as the Peoria Zoo, Contemporary Art Center and Luthy Botanical Garden, which offers free admission.
Naperville
Population: 148,437
Median household income: $210,168
Median home value: $473,285
Median monthly rent: $1,452
Average commute time: 26 minutes
This isn’t the first time the Chicago suburb has been recognized for its livability — a 2024 ranking from Niche named Naperville among the best places to live in America, and another article named it one of the best cities in the nation to buy a home.
Some of the top things to do in Naperville are the farmer’s market, Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery and Knoch Knolls Nature Center.
Evanston
Population: 76,111
Median household income: $174,974
Median home value: $420,228
Median monthly rent: $1,345
Average commute time: 24 minutes
The cost of living in Evanston is higher than the national average, but lower than Chicago’s. The city gets an average of 36 inches of snowfall each year, according to Livability.
Evanston is home to Northwestern University, which offers a free, public art museum to residents and visitors alike. Other popular attractions include the Evanston History Center, a downtown farmer’s market and Dearborn Observatory.
The News-Democrat has reached out to city officials with Bloomington, Champaign, Peoria, Naperville and Evanston for comment on the 2025 Livability ranking.
Do you have a question about living in Illinois for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.
