2 Illinois Towns Among Money's 'Best Places To Live In America'

WHEATON, IL — Two Chicago-area towns made Money magazine's coveted list of Best Places To Live In America for 2018 — and they might surprise you. The new rankings, released Monday in partnership with realtor.com, were compiled by looking at more than 135,000 data points including economic health, cost of living, diversity, public education, crime and income, according to Money. Reporters also researched each community, interviewed residents and checked out neighborhoods.

The study included only towns with populations of 50,000 or more, but excluded communities with more than double the national crime risk, less than 85 percent of their state's median household income or lack of diversity. That left Money with 583 cities, and two Illinois towns ranked among the top 50.

While no Illinois community found a spot in the top 10 — or even top 20 — Wheaton came in at No. 27 on the list and Schaumburg ranked at No. 34. (Get Patched In: Subscribe to free daily email, news alerts, Facebook fun and more from Patch)

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Money said Wheaton, located about 30 miles west of Chicago, "features a downtown out of central casting: a red-brick town hall, an old theater with a classic facade, and locally owned shops. Its authentic character owes to history spanning nearly 200 years." It credits the school district, Wheaton/Warrenville School District 200, with being "one reason Wheaton has made repeat appearances on Money's Best Places To Live rankings over the years."

The town has made multiple "best places to live" rankings over the years.

Some Wheaton stats:

• Population: 53,921
• Median family income: $119,232
• High school graduation rate: 93 percent
• Median home price: $350,000

Find homes for sale in Wheaton via realtor.com.

Schaumburg, located about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, boasts employers like IBM, Nielsen and Verizon, according to Money, which adds: "All work and no play would make for a dull town. Luckily, an outdoor amphitheater in the middle of Schaumburg puts on an eclectic series of events over the summer. Recent highlights include swing dance class, sunset yoga, and a live musical celebration of Harry Potter’s birthday."

Some Schaumburg stats:

• Population: 77,222
• Median family income: $89,726
• High school graduation rate: 92 percent
• Median home price: $192,000

According to the rankings, these are the 5 Best Places To Live In America:

1. Frisco, Texas
2. Ashburn, Virginia
3. Carmel, Indiana
4. Ellicott City, Maryland
5. Cary, North Carolina

See the full top 50 list here.

Photo via Wheaton Patch staff