Although living in Chicago proper has its perks, there's something about the suburbs that just hits all the right notes—at least according to a new survey by Niche, a school review platform with a focus on neighborhoods.
The company's latest "Best Places to Live in America" ranking has just been released, offering a comprehensive assessment of an area’s overall livability and among the top 30 is Clarendon Hills, a Chicago suburb with a population of over 8,500.
To determine the rankings, Niche considered a variety of factors, including cost of living, job opportunities, nightlife, outdoor activities, weather patterns, commuting and housing trends, crime and safety statistics, and more.
With an overall grade of A+, Clarendon Hills landed at number 25 and is also recognized as one of the best places to live in Illinois.
"Living in Clarendon Hills offers residents a dense suburban feel, and most residents own their homes," the study notes. "There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in Clarendon Hills, and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Clarendon Hills are highly rated."
When it comes to real estate (let's be honest—that's one of the first things we consider when choosing where to live), the median home value in the area is $595,500, well above the national average of $303,400. However, the median rent price is actually lower than the national average: $1,124 compared to $1,348.
Topping the overall list is Colonial Village in Arlington, Virginia, followed by Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, and Chesterbrook, a suburb of Philadelphia. Rounding out the top five are Harbour Island in Tampa, Florida, and City Center in Santa Monica, California.
The 25 best places to live in America
1. Colonial Village in Arlington, Virginia
2. Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia
3. Chesterbrook in Pennsylvania
4. Harbour Island in Tampa, Florida
5. City Center in Santa Monica, California
6. South Lake Union in Seattle, Washington
7. Carmel in Indiana
8. Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia
9. Madison in Huntsville, Alabama
10. Johns Creek in Atlanta, Georgia
11. Ardmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12. Courier City-Oscawana in Tampa, Florida
13. Penn Wynne in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
14. Brookline in Boston, Massachusetts
15. Downtown in Orlando, Florida
16. Cinco Ranch in Houston, Texas
17. Ballston/Virginia Square in Arlington, Virginia
18. Radnor/Fort Myer Heights in Arlington, Virginia
19. Okemos in Lansing, Michigan
20. Triangle State in Austin, Texas
21. Evergreen Park in Palo Alto, California
22. Cambridgeport in Cambridge, Massachusetts
23. Naperville in Illinois
24. Innsbrook in Richmond, Virginia
25. Clarendon Hills in Chicago, Illinois