Community Corner

Suburban Towns Ranked as Best in State for Young Families

Grayslake ranked No. 4 on nerdwallet.com's top 10 list of best communities in Illinois for young families.

The consumer advocacy website NerdWallet has ranked the best Illinois communities for young families with several suburban towns making the list. The rankings were based on the following factors: public school rating, average home value, ongoing cost of homeownership, average income and economic growth.
The following suburbs made the Top 10 list:

1. Edwardsville
2. O'Fallon
3. Charleston
4. Grayslake
5. New Lenox
6. Geneva
7. Huntley
8. Downers Grove
9. Elmhurst
10. Orland Park

Edwardsville, which is about 30 miles northeast of St. Louis, is consistently cited among the best places for families in both statewide and national studies, according to NerdWallet.

"The town’s public schools at every level, from elementary to high school, have a near-perfect rating from Great Schools," according to the report.

Grayslake ranked No. 4 for its "great balance of affordability, proximity to Chicago and quality schools," according to NerdWallet. "Parks department provides excellent programming" and that the "schools remain on par with those in wealthier towns."

Do you agree with these rankings? Tell us why your town should have made the list.


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