Best counties to live in Illinois

- Overall Rank: 932
- Population: 51,672
- Median household income: $75,782
- Median home value: $172,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $841 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Mary Morgan Elementary School (grade A), Byron Middle School (grade A), Eswood Community Consolidated Grade School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian School (grade B), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Byron (grade A), Stillman Valley (grade A minus), Oregon (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 925
- Population: 6,334
- Median household income: $64,760
- Median home value: $122,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $625 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Brown County Elementary School (grade B), Brown County High School (grade B), Brown County Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mount Sterling (grade B), Mount Sterling Township (grade B+), Lee Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 924
- Population: 21,942
- Median household income: $67,729
- Median home value: $179,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $768 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: River Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Galena Middle School (grade A minus), Warren Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Tri-State Christian School (grade B+), St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Galena (grade A minus), East Dubuque (grade B+), The Galena Territory (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 904
- Population: 36,998
- Median household income: $78,054
- Median home value: $171,500 (80% own)
- Median rent: $888 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Aviston Elementary School (grade A), Albers Elementary School (grade A), Germantown Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School (grade B), Mater Dei Catholic High School (grade B), All Saints Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Germantown (grade A minus), Trenton (grade A minus), New Baden (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 849
- Population: 284,591
- Median household income: $61,738
- Median home value: $146,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $941 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Prairie Hill Elementary School (grade A), Ledgewood Elementary School (grade A), Shirland School District #134 (grade A)
- Top private schools: Keith Country Day School (grade A+), Boylan Catholic High School (grade A minus), Rockford Christian Schools (grade A minus)
- Top places: Rockton (grade A), Roscoe (grade A minus), South Beloit (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 833
- Population: 34,594
- Median household income: $73,181
- Median home value: $166,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $697 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Teutopolis Junior High School (grade A), Teutopolis Grade School (grade A), Teutopolis High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Anthony High School (grade A minus), St. Anthony Elementary School (grade unavailable), Sacred Heart Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Teutopolis (grade A minus), Effingham (grade B+), Teutopolis Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 798
- Population: 13,313
- Median household income: $63,295
- Median home value: $141,200 (85% own)
- Median rent: $630 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Vienna Grade School (grade A minus), Vienna High School (grade B), New Simpson Hill School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Vienna (grade B+), Buncombe (grade B minus), New Burnside (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 732
- Population: 67,120
- Median household income: $60,325
- Median home value: $139,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $824 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Carterville High School (grade A minus), Carterville Junior High School (grade A minus), Carterville Intermediate School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School (grade unavailable), Unity Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Carterville (grade A), Crainville (grade A), Energy (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 723
- Population: 100,686
- Median household income: $68,617
- Median home value: $218,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,024 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Somonauk Middle School (grade A), Indian Creek Elementary School (grade A minus), W.W. Woodbury Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Aurora Christian Schools Cornerstone Campus (grade B minus), St. Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Mary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sycamore (grade A), Somonauk (grade B+), DeKalb (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 717
- Population: 27,370
- Median household income: $48,904
- Median home value: $100,400 (61% own)
- Median rent: $688 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: West Prairie South Elementary School (grade A minus), Macomb Senior High School (grade B), Macomb Junior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Paul School (grade unavailable), TRINITY ACADEMY (grade unavailable), Calvary Baptist Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Macomb (grade B+), Bushnell (grade C+), Emmet Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 687
- Population: 131,276
- Median household income: $74,606
- Median home value: $159,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $850 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Morton Junior High School (grade A), Lincoln Elementary School (grade A), Grundy Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Blessed Sacrament School (grade unavailable), Bethel Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Patrick School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morton (grade A), Washington (grade A), East Peoria (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 620
- Population: 65,583
- Median household income: $63,767
- Median home value: $151,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $782 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Dewey Elementary School (grade B+), Liberty Elementary School (grade B+), Monroe Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Quincy Notre Dame High School (grade A minus), St. Peter School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Solanus School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Quincy (grade B+), Riverside Township (grade A minus), Ellington Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 615
- Population: 103,542
- Median household income: $59,622
- Median home value: $119,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $774 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Maroa-Forsyth Grade School (grade A minus), Mt. Zion Elementary School (grade A minus), Maroa-Forsyth Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Teresa High School (grade A), Lutheran School Association of Decatur (grade B minus), Holy Family Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Forsyth (grade A), Mount Zion (grade A minus), Long Creek (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 555
- Population: 16,698
- Median household income: $81,151
- Median home value: $168,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $917 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: White Heath Elementary School (grade A), Monticello High School (grade A minus), Monticello Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Monticello Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Faith Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Monticello (grade A), Sangamon Township (grade A), Monticello Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 495
- Population: 38,414
- Median household income: $80,093
- Median home value: $186,100 (82% own)
- Median rent: $938 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Congerville Elementary School (grade A), Germantown Hills Middle School (grade A), Germantown Hills Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Countryside Private School (grade unavailable), St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable), Linn Mennonite Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Germantown Hills (grade A), Metamora (grade A), Eureka (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 487
- Population: 311,133
- Median household income: $100,101
- Median home value: $270,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,310 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Cary-Grove Community High School (grade A), Prairie Ridge High School (grade A), Crystal Lake South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Oaks Christian Academy (grade A), Marian Central Catholic High School (grade B+), St. Thomas the Apostle School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Fox River Grove (grade A+), Lakewood (grade A), Crystal Lake (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 410
- Population: 53,176
- Median household income: $44,847
- Median home value: $123,400 (48% own)
- Median rent: $757 (52% rent)
- Top public schools: Carbondale Community High School (grade A), Giant City Elementary School (grade A), Unity Point Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School of Carbondale (grade B minus), St. Andrew Catholic School (grade unavailable), Murphysboro Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Carbondale (grade B+), Murphysboro (grade B), Makanda Township (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 394
- Population: 265,512
- Median household income: $71,759
- Median home value: $159,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $938 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: St. Jacob Elementary School (grade A), Columbus Elementary School (grade A), Alhambra Primary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Metro-East Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Father McGivney Catholic High School (grade B+), Marquette Catholic High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Glen Carbon (grade A+), Edwardsville (grade A+), Maryville (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 346
- Population: 132,795
- Median household income: $106,358
- Median home value: $288,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,695 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Lisbon Grade School (grade A), Oswego East High School (grade A), Bristol Grade School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Yorkville Christian High School (grade B), Parkview Christian Academy (grade C+), Cross Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oswego (grade A), Yorkville (grade A minus), Montgomery (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 309
- Population: 34,905
- Median household income: $100,685
- Median home value: $254,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $956 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Rogers Elementary School (grade A minus), Parkview Elementary School (grade A minus), Gardner Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Gibault Catholic High School (grade B+), Immaculate Conception School (grade unavailable), SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Columbia (grade A), Waterloo (grade A minus), Hecker (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 289
- Population: 696,774
- Median household income: $103,678
- Median home value: $283,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,342 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Neuqua Valley High School (grade A+), Graham Elementary School (grade A+), Scullen Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Joliet Catholic Academy (grade A), Providence Catholic High School (grade A minus), Illinois Lutheran High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Frankfort (grade A), Plainfield (grade A), Mokena (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 288
- Population: 181,186
- Median household income: $63,409
- Median home value: $150,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $909 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Dunlap High School (grade A), Wilder-Waite Elementary School (grade A), Ridgeview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Daarul Uloom Islamic School (grade A+), Peoria Notre Dame High School (grade B+), Peoria Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Dunlap (grade A+), Elmwood (grade A minus), Peoria Heights (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 240
- Population: 256,791
- Median household income: $68,915
- Median home value: $158,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,002 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Scott Elementary School (grade A), Mascoutah Middle School (grade A), J. Emmett Hinchcliffe Sr. Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Governor French Academy (grade A+), Althoff Catholic College Preparatory High School (grade A), First Baptist Academy (grade B)
- Top places: O'Fallon (grade A+), Shiloh (grade A), Swansea (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 232
- Population: 517,254
- Median household income: $96,400
- Median home value: $290,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,335 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (grade A+), St. Charles North High School (grade A+), St. Charles East High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Elgin Academy (grade A+), The Einstein Academy (grade A+), Marmion Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Campton Hills (grade A+), Geneva (grade A+), St. Charles (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 220
- Population: 5,225,367
- Median household income: $78,304
- Median home value: $293,700 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,318 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Payton College Preparatory High School (grade A+), Northside College Preparatory High School (grade A+), Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (grade A+), British International School of Chicago, South Loop (grade A+), Roycemore School (grade A+)
- Top places: Evanston (grade A+), Loop (grade A+), Northbrook (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 212
- Population: 196,122
- Median household income: $71,653
- Median home value: $162,400 (70% own)
- Median rent: $927 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Rochester High School (grade A), Springfield High School (grade A), Glenwood High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Griffin High School (grade A), Lutheran High School (grade B), Calvary Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Leland Grove (grade A+), Chatham (grade A), Sherman (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 96
- Population: 206,525
- Median household income: $61,090
- Median home value: $192,600 (54% own)
- Median rent: $977 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Mahomet-Seymour High School (grade A), St. Joseph Middle School (grade A), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Academy High (grade A+), The High School of Saint Thomas More (grade A), Judah Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Savoy (grade A+), Champaign (grade A), Mahomet (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 73
- Population: 171,284
- Median household income: $75,356
- Median home value: $191,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $941 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Thomas Metcalf School (grade A+), University High School (grade A), Tri-Valley Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Central Catholic High School (grade A minus), Cornerstone Christian Academy of McLean County (grade B+), Calvary Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Normal (grade A), Bloomington (grade A), Downs (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 37
- Population: 713,159
- Median household income: $104,553
- Median home value: $313,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,382 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Adlai E. Stevenson High School (grade A+), Vernon Hills High School (grade A+), Barrington High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Lake Forest Academy (grade A+), Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Carmel Catholic High School (grade A)
- Top places: Long Grove (grade A+), Buffalo Grove (grade A+), Vernon Hills (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 11
- Population: 930,559
- Median household income: $107,035
- Median home value: $361,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,551 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Hinsdale Central High School (grade A+), Metea Valley High School (grade A+), Naperville North High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Naperville Christian Academy (grade A+), St. Francis High School (grade A+), Benet Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Naperville (grade A+), Clarendon Hills (grade A+), Hinsdale (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.