WYLT Rankings · 2026
Best neighborhoods for retirees
in Illinois
Ranked by safety, affordability, and livability — neighborhoods with low crime and manageable costs.
#1 Pick for Retirees in Illinois
Palatine, Palatine — Think twice
Palatine
Think twicePalatine, IL
Price
$427K
Schools
7.6/10
Walk
82/100
Aurora
Good for nowAurora, IL
Price
$205K
Schools
3.5/10
Walk
68/100
Bolingbrook
Settle hereBolingbrook, IL
Price
$277K
Walk
72/100
Naperville
Settle hereNaperville, IL
Price
$551K
Schools
6.9/10
Walk
53/100
Bloomington
Good for nowBloomington, IL
Price
$145K
Schools
7.6/10
Walk
91/100
Lincoln Park
Settle hereLincoln Park, IL
Price
$720K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
87/100
Chicago
Settle hereChicago, IL
Price
$720K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
87/100
Lakeview
Settle hereLakeview, IL
Price
$538K
Schools
5/10
Walk
74/100
Decatur
Think twiceDecatur, IL
Price
$125K
Schools
6.7/10
Walk
46/100
Springfield
Think twiceSpringfield, IL
Price
$95K
Schools
6.4/10
Walk
74/100
Cumberland
Good for nowCumberland, IL
Price
$150K
Schools
4.4/10
Walk
9/100
Champaign
Think twiceChampaign, IL
Price
$185K
Schools
6.8/10
Walk
75/100
Schaumburg
Good for nowSchaumburg, IL
Price
$372K
Schools
7.6/10
Walk
83/100
Berwyn
Good for nowBerwyn, IL
Price
$295K
Schools
7.3/10
Walk
77/100
Chicago
Settle hereChicago, IL
Price
$500K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
90/100
River North
Good for nowRiver North, IL
Price
$500K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
90/100
Chicago
Settle hereChicago, IL
Price
$500K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
85/100
West Loop
Good for nowWest Loop, IL
Price
$500K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
85/100
Chicago
Good for nowChicago, IL
Price
$370K
Schools
7.9/10
Walk
75/100
Chicago
Settle hereChicago, IL
Price
$586K
Schools
7.9/10
Walk
89/100
Elgin
Think twiceElgin, IL
Price
$242K
Schools
6.9/10
Walk
66/100
Evanston
Good for nowEvanston, IL
Price
$591K
Schools
7.3/10
Walk
89/100
Norridge
Good for nowNorridge, IL
Price
$420K
Schools
6.8/10
Walk
42/100
Chicago
Settle hereChicago, IL
Price
$526K
Schools
5/10
Walk
82/100
Skokie
Good for nowSkokie, IL
Price
$396K
Schools
7.8/10
Walk
73/100