The 20 Safest Places to Live in Illinois

Illinois is called "The Land of Lincoln," per its officially adopted state slogan. As a Midwest state, it is unique from the other regions in this classification because of its high population density. While it's still agricultural, the metropolitan areas have grown with Chicago being its largest city, and the smaller Springfield as its capital. If you're considering a love to Illinois, it's wise to consider making your home in one of the safer areas of the state. With crime on the rise nationally, there are a few areas that seem to have not been impacted by the epidemic, making them better choices for settling and building a life. Our criteria for choosing the safest parts of Illinois include those with the lowest crime rates.

20. Geneva, Illinois

Geneva is a moderate sized city with 22,082 residents who call it home. It offers a few more amenities than the smaller towns with low crime rates, such as ample shopping, dining, and entertainment options. It's a relatively safe place to live with a reported violent crime rate of 6 in 1,000 people. This significantly reduces your chances of falling victim to acts of criminal violence.

19. Burr Ridge, Illinois

Burr Ridge is a smaller town with a total of 10,852 residents. This city made it to our 20 safest places to live list because of its low crime rate. The reported incidence of violent crimes committed in Burr Ridge were 3 per 1,000 persons within the most recent FBI reporting. The chances of becoming the victim of a violent crime are slim.

18. Stickney, Illinois

Stickney is a small city in Illinois with 6,680 residents. It is a relatively safe place to live. According to estimates gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were just 2 violent crimes per 1,000 people committed there in the last 12 months. It isn't a very large community, but it's a good place to settle if you want to relax in peace and quiet.

17. Manhattan, Illinois

Manhattan is another smaller town in Illinois with a low population density. It has a residential population of only 7,879 people. It's a fairly quiet community with a reported violent crime rate of 2 in 1,000 persons. It breaks down to just 1 in every 500 coming victims so the chances of you living a happy and peaceful existence are fairly high if you live in Manhattan, when compared to some of the larger and more crime impacted areas of the state.

16. West Frankfurt, Illinois

West Frankfurt is a smaller area that is also one of the better places to live if you prefer a small and quiet community. You won't have to live in fear of becoming the victim of a violent crime as the statistics reported show that the odds are low. There town has a crime statistic of just 2 violent crimes per 1,000 people.

15. Bolingbrook, Illinois

Bolingbrook is one of the larger cities in Illinois with a residential population of 74,356. It is considered to be one of the safer metropolitan cities in the state with a safety score of 86.44 out of 100. The number of violent crimes committed were 136 over the past 12 months with a down turning trend that decreased by 13.2%. A total of 991 property crimes were reported with a 1% increasing trend.

14. Cicero, Illinois

Cicero is a larger city of 84,375 residents. For a larger city the citizen to officer ration of 465 to 1 isn't that bad. There were 141 violent crimes reported showing a downward trend of 40.8% which means that Cicero is getting safer all the time. There were 1,652 property crimes reported reflecting a decrease of 8.5%. The numbers are going the right way for the city that is safe by current standards and comparisons.

13. Skokie, Illinois

Skokie is another larger city in Illinois. There are 65,184 people living in the city and surrounding area. The number of violent crimes reported was 154 with a downward trend of 9.3%. 1,333 property crimes were reported and this rate is also less than the previous year by 1.4%.

12. Schaumburg, Illinois

Schaumburg is a larger metro region with 75,050 residents. The citizen to officer ratio is 531:1, however, the local crime rates show that the numbers are trending downward. There were 55 violent crimes reported showing a decrease of 24.6%, and 1,820 property crimes were committed showing a 2.7% drop in the year over year figures.

11. Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington is a moderately large city with 79,233 residents and a citizen to officer ratio of 524 to 1/ There were 305 violent crimes reported showing a year over year decrease of 6.5%. The property crime rates were own by 12.2% with 1,460 reported for the last 12 months. Bloomington has its share of problems but it's moving in the right direction for the safety and well-being of its residents.

10. La Grange Park, Illinois

La Grange Park has a small population of 13,596 residents. It has a small town feeling. It's considered to be one of the safest places in the state of Illinois because it has such a low crime rate. The reported numbers are 81% lower than the national average and La Grange Park is ranked as being 91% safer when compared to other US cities. Although the crime rate has increased by 3% over the past year, you still only have a 1 in 201 risk of becoming a violent crime victim. This makes La Grange Park one of the better choices if you're looking for a good place to raise a family.

9. Justice, Illinois

The number of residents in Justice is 12,957. It's a moderately small city that enjoys a good rating for safety. Justice is rated as having 88% fewer crimes than the average of all of the cities in the state of Illinois. The odds of becoming a violent crime victim in this town are a low 1 in 357. For the past 12 months, the crime rate in Justice has lowered by 89% which is encouraging. This is a desirable community because of its safety ratings so the real estate prices are a little higher, and the cost of living is too, but they're not that bad at a respective 3 and 6%.

8. Hinsdale, Illinois

There are 17,438 residents who call Hinsdale home. It's a moderate sized city, but not large. This city has an exceptional livability rating because of its low crime rate and all the amenities for a town of its size. There are plenty of shopping, dining, recreation and entertainment venues. The statistics show that your risk of becoming the victim of a violent crime in Hinsdale are 1 in 179. Because of its desirability, the rental prices are 93% higher with real estate blowing the doors off at 392% higher and the cost of living at 93% higher than the average of all Illinois cities. It is a more affluent place to live, but if you can afford it, you'll be safer than in some other places. It's worth noting that the crime rate for the city has gone down 20% in the past year.

7. Huntley, Illinois

Huntley has a population of 25,831 residents. It's on the plus side of moderate in its population density, but it has a high approval for livability. With crime rates that are 83% less than the state average and 85% below the national average, it's a pretty safe place to put down roots. The odds of becoming a crime victim are 1 in 256, and this includes violent and property crimes. The city is moving in the right direction with regards to safety with a 12 month decrease in crime of 39%. Because of its desirability, the cost of living, real estate, and rental prices are a bit higher in Huntley.

6. Gilberts, Illinois

Gilberts is a small town of 7,479 residents living within its boundaries. This is just a part of the appeal of Gilberts. It has a high desirability score due to its low crime rates and high safety ratings. It's 90% below the national average in violent crimes. The odds of becoming a crime victim are 1 in 359 and this includes all types of crime. The good news is that the crime rates have dropped by 62% in the past 12 months. You should be prepared for real estate costs that are 46% above the state's average with rent even worse at 77% higher and a cost of living increase of 14%. The more expensive places to live are usually among the safest and most appealing.This seems to be a major factor in driving the value of residency.

5. Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Buffalo Grove is a moderate sized city with 41,329 residents. The city is situated in Lake County and it offers an urban and suburban combination for the feel of the environment. There are lots of amenities including parks, coffee shops, and restaurants in the city. The schools are also highly rated. The chances of becoming the victim of a violent crime in Buffalo Grove are just 1.7 in 10,000. This means that the odds are so remote they're almost negligible.

4. Indian Head Park, Illinois

Indian Head Park is a very small neighborhood that is a suburb of Chicago. The overall vibe of this community is a mixture of urban and suburban with plenty of amenities nearby. It's a place where retirees enjoy living as well as young professionals and families with children. The public schools have a high rating and the crime rates are low. If you live in Indian Head Park, your risk of becoming a violent crime victim are 2.64 in 10,000. It's ten times safer than many other cities in the state, and even more when compared to the national statistics on crime.

3. Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest has a population of 19,219 residents living within its boundaries. It is a Chicago suburb and although the population is fairly large, it still has sparse suburban vibe. The majority of residents are home owners with fewer renting. The amenities are great and this is an area that appeals to retirees and families with children because of the highly rated public schools. The crime rate in Lake Forest is low. Residents of this suburb have a 2.06 chance in 10,000 of becoming a violent crime victim.

2. Bannockburn, Illinois

Bannockburn is a Chicago suburb with 1,325 residents living within its boundaries. The overall vibe is that of a dense suburban area with most residents owning their homes. The public schools are rated as excellent and the crime rate is low. According to the statistics over the past year, there have been zero violent crimes committed in Bannockburn.

1. Leland Grove, Illinois

Leland Grove is a small community within the greater area of Springfield. This small suburb has a residential population of just 1,457. It is considered to be one of the best places to live in Springfield as well as within the entire state of Illinois. This suburb has the vibe of a rural community with most residents in Leland owning their homes. The amenities in this area are ample with plenty of dining, recreation and bar venues. The public schools are above average and retirees love to settle in Leland Grove for the peace and quiet. There were zero violent crimes committed in the past 12 months, making this one of the safest places to live in Illinois.