Buffalo Grove ranked best place to live in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report. Here’s who else made the list

Buffalo Grove is the best place to live in Illinois, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The publication also ranked the village that straddles Cook and Lake counties as the 15th best place to live in the country in its newly released 2026-2027 “Best Places to Live” rankings report.

Naperville placed 32nd nationally, with Arlington Heights at 46, Palatine at 71, Bolingbrook at 72 and Elgin at 74.

The annual rankings evaluate communities on quality of life, value, desirability, job market and overall livability.

“The 2026-2027 Best Places to Live rankings offer consumers a look at places throughout the U.S. that might meet their needs for livability best,” said Erika Giovanetti, consumer lending analyst at U.S. News & World Report.

The report noted Buffalo Grove’s median household income of $135,543, compared with the national median of $83,181. The village also boasts a 2.1% unemployment rate, below the national average of 4.5%.

“The national average home value is $359,870, while the median home value in Buffalo Grove is $380,110. Buffalo Grove offers a higher value of living compared to similarly sized cities,” the report states.

“This recognition is a reflection of the incredible people and partnerships that make Buffalo Grove such a special place,” Village President Eric Smith said. “Buffalo Grove has always been a community that thinks boldly about the future while never losing sight of what matters most, its people.”

Officials also pointed to recent redevelopment activity as a sign of the community's momentum.

Projects including The Clove redevelopment, Bison Crossing and the Chase Plaza redevelopment are reshaping commercial corridors in the village, officials said.

They also cited the significance of long-range planning efforts — including a new Comprehensive Plan and a 2024-2028 Strategic Plan — also underway.

For Naperville, the report cites the city’s median home value of $497,672, which is higher than the national average, while the median household income, $151,621, also beats the national average. Its unemployment rate of 3.8% is also lower than the national figure.

Naperville also ranked second in the Best Places to Live in Illinois, with Arlington Heights at 3, Palatine at 4, Bolingbrook at 5, Elgin at 6, Schaumburg at 8, Des Plaines at 9 and Aurora at 11 among the top 20.