Here's Illinois' Best Town To Live In

WINNETKA, IL — The best town to live in Illinois is apparently affluent lakefront village of Winnetka on Chicago's North Shore. That’s according to a new report from the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St., which determined the best city to live in every state.

The authors acknowledged that while many things factor into what makes a place “home,” some specific attributes are commonly shared and “universally desirable.” These include essentials like safe streets, a strong local economy, affordability and diverse entertainment options.

Here’s a breakdown of Winnetka:

• Population: 12,437
• 5 year population change: +2.3 percent
• Median home value: $989,600
• Median household income: $207,857

The report notes that more than a quarter of Winnetka commuters take public transportation, and the village "boasts four beaches, a boat launch, several parks, a tennis club, a golf course, an ice rink, and forest preserve areas, all open to the public."

The researchers used a weighted index of more than two dozen measures in four categories: affordability, economy, quality of life and community to identify the best cities in each state. Some of the measures included a comparison of median home value to median income, cost of living, unemployment rate, poverty rate, food insecurity rate, death rate and violent crime rate.

Most of the best cities to live in were, like Winnetka, relatively affluent. For instance, the "best place to live in Arizona" is Paradise Valley, where the median home value of $1.3 million outpaces the North Shore and is more than is more than seven times the national median, although the median household in the town earns an income of $173,487 — almost 17 percent less than the average Winnetkan.

But not every state's best city was a wealthy enclave. Several towns were far more modest. For example, Batesville, Arkansas, was highlighted specifically because it’s so affordable and has various attractions and amenities. The median household in the city earns $42,143 a year, while the median home is worth $120,400.

“With roots as far back as 1804, Batesville is the second oldest city in Arkansas,” the authors noted. “The city, which avoided destruction in the Civil War, has a number of historic buildings and sites. There are attractions in the area for nearly every taste and preference, including antique stores, art galleries, an annual film festival, and the Batesville Motor Speedway.”

Patch staffer Dan Hampton contributed.

Photos via Realtor.com