Best counties to live in Illinois
Written by:
February 18, 2021
edward P. steinburg desnged // Wikimedia Commons
Best counties to live in Illinois
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Illinois using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Alexbaumgarner // Wikimedia
#25. Winnebago County
- Population: 284,819
- Median home value: $120,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $799 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $54,489
- Median home value: $120,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $799 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $54,489
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Tazewell County
- Population: 133,195
- Median home value: $142,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $741 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $63,454
- Median home value: $142,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $741 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $63,454
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Clinton County
- Population: 37,634
- Median home value: $146,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $808 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $66,639
- Median home value: $146,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $808 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $66,639
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#22. Effingham County
- Population: 34,137
- Median home value: $143,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $650 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $56,685
- Median home value: $143,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $650 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $56,685
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#21. DeKalb County
- Population: 104,366
- Median home value: $173,100 (57% own)
- Median rent: $930 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $63,317
- Median home value: $173,100 (57% own)
- Median rent: $930 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $63,317
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#20. McDonough County
- Population: 30,479
- Median home value: $91,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $662 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $44,471
- Median home value: $91,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $662 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $44,471
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Archedamian // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Macon County
- Population: 105,528
- Median home value: $98,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $684 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $50,480
- Median home value: $98,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $684 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $50,480
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Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Rock Island County
- Population: 143,873
- Median home value: $119,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $748 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $54,858
- Median home value: $119,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $748 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $54,858
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Madison County
- Population: 264,776
- Median home value: $135,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $824 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $60,738
- Median home value: $135,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $824 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $60,738
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ProfDEH // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Woodford County
- Population: 38,700
- Median home value: $168,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $758 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $72,808
- Median home value: $168,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $758 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $72,808
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Dual Freq // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Piatt County
- Population: 16,401
- Median home value: $138,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $851 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $70,849
- Median home value: $138,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $851 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $70,849
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Carldaniel // Wikimedia Commons
#14. McHenry County
- Population: 307,714
- Median home value: $224,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,197 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $86,799
- Median home value: $224,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,197 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $86,799
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Monroe County
- Population: 34,168
- Median home value: $211,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $872 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $85,747
- Median home value: $211,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $872 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $85,747
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#12. Jackson County
- Population: 57,977
- Median home value: $108,600 (51% own)
- Median rent: $691 (49% rent)
- Median household income: $37,241
- Median home value: $108,600 (51% own)
- Median rent: $691 (49% rent)
- Median household income: $37,241
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IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Kendall County
- Population: 126,054
- Median home value: $235,600 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,414 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $96,563
- Median home value: $235,600 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,414 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $96,563
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Xing979 // Wikimedia Commons
#10. St. Clair County
- Population: 262,338
- Median home value: $128,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $861 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $55,179
- Median home value: $128,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $861 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $55,179
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Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Will County
- Population: 689,315
- Median home value: $232,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,176 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $86,961
- Median home value: $232,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,176 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $86,961
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#8. Cook County
- Population: 5,198,275
- Median home value: $246,600 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,123 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $64,660
- Median home value: $246,600 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,123 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $64,660
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#7. Peoria County
- Population: 182,770
- Median home value: $129,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $798 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $55,842
- Median home value: $129,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $798 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $55,842
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#6. Kane County
- Population: 531,376
- Median home value: $238,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,148 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $79,394
- Median home value: $238,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,148 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $79,394
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Sangamon County
- Population: 196,861
- Median home value: $141,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $820 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $61,912
- Median home value: $141,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $820 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $61,912
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Beyond My Ken // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Champaign County
- Population: 209,922
- Median home value: $162,100 (53% own)
- Median rent: $882 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $52,797
- Median home value: $162,100 (53% own)
- Median rent: $882 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $52,797
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Michael from Palatine, Illinois // Wikimedia Commons
#3. McLean County
- Population: 172,578
- Median home value: $167,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $845 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $67,675
- Median home value: $167,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $845 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $67,675
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edward P. steinburg desnged // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Lake County
- Population: 701,473
- Median home value: $265,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,197 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $89,427
- Median home value: $265,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,197 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $89,427
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Neatpete86 // Wikimedia Commons
#1. DuPage County
- Population: 929,060
- Median home value: $308,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,316 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $92,809
- Median home value: $308,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,316 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $92,809
