Between nature, a gorgeous Lake Michigan coastline, small and large cities, rural communities, world-class restaurants, and so much more, Illinois as a whole is an ideal place to live. While all cities and towns have their good attributes, not all are equal in terms of safety.
Luckily, the Prairie State is home to numerous safe communities – so many, in fact, that Safewise put together a list of The 50 Safest Cities In Illinois based on FBI crime statistics. However, we are going to take a closer look at just the top 10 on the list and, if you’re looking for a new place to move to, you may want to consider one of these.
- Huntley
Village of Huntley, Illinois/Facebook With a population of 27,849, the village of Huntley is located just a mere 46 miles from Chicago but seems worlds away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Although it dropped four spots on the list since the previous year, the violent crime rate decreased by 0.2%. However, property crime increased by 1.2% from 2020 to 2021.
- Gilberts
Teemu008/Flickr Approximately 45 miles northwest of Chicago lies the village of Gilberts with a growing population of 8,259. Between 2020 and 2021, violent crime decreased by 0.3% while property crime increased by 1.8%. The median income in this safe community is $108,352 and most residents own their own homes.
- Lake in the Hills
Village of Lake in the Hills/Facebook Covering an area of just 10.44 square miles, Lake of the Hills has a population of 28,811 and offers a lake, several parks, and gated residential neighborhoods. From 2020 to 2021, both violent and property crime rates decreased by 0.4%.
- Chester
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Jumping 19 spots up the list of safest cities in Illinois since 2020, the Home of Popeye the Sailor Man saw a decrease of 0.7% in violent crime, although property crime rose by 1.1%. This safe city sits along the Mississippi River and has a population of 8,224 residents.
- Orland Hills
Inventorchris/Flickr Formerly known as Westhaven, Orland Hills is the youngest village in southwest Cook County. This community of 7,066 residents is a suburb of Chicago that has highly-rated schools and an ever-present police force that patrols the neighborhoods frequently.
- Elburn
Slambo/Wikimedia Commons Another village in the Chicago suburbs, Elburn actually saw an increase in both violent and property crimes at a rate of 0.2% and 1.2% respectively. However, this community of 5,967 is still top-rated in terms of safety Here you will find a commuter rail, annual community events, plenty of shopping and restaurants along with several parks. It’s considered an ideal place to raise a family.
- Lindenhurst
Village of Lindenhurst, IL/Facebook With a slightly larger population than many of the other communities on this list, Lindenhurst is home to 14,296 residents and is considered one of the best places to live in the Prairie State. Many families decide to raise their children in this Lake County village which has seen a 0.6% decrease in violent crime and a 1.1% decrease in property crime from 2020 to 2021.
- Inverness
*Hajee/Flickr The safe suburban Cook County village of Inverness is home to 7,442 people and many parks for all to enjoy. As a new addition to the Safewise list, this community saw zero violent crime and relatively low property crime in 2021.
- Hawthorn Woods
Inventorchris/Flickr Hawthorn Woods is home to 8,651 people and offers several parks with recreational programs, an aquatic center, hiking and biking trails, and a police department that works closely with the community. It also has a designation of an International Dark Sky Community. From 2020 to 2021, this village saw an increase of 0.2% in violent crime but a decrease of 2.9% in property crime. Not only is it one of the safest places in Illinois, but one of the safest in the nation.
- Campton Hills
Teemu008/Flickr Holding onto the top spot of safest cities in Illinois is Campton Hills, which saw no change in its low violent crime rate and only a slight increase of 0.1% in property crime from 2020 to 2021. This upscale community has a population of 11,202 and is surrounded by forest and hills, making it a wonderful place for those seeking both safety and a quieter life out in the suburbs.
What do you think about this “safest cities” list by Safewise? Do you live in any of the communities mentioned above? If so, please tell us about your experience of living there.
Village of Huntley, Illinois/Facebook
With a population of 27,849, the village of Huntley is located just a mere 46 miles from Chicago but seems worlds away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Although it dropped four spots on the list since the previous year, the violent crime rate decreased by 0.2%. However, property crime increased by 1.2% from 2020 to 2021.
Teemu008/Flickr
Approximately 45 miles northwest of Chicago lies the village of Gilberts with a growing population of 8,259. Between 2020 and 2021, violent crime decreased by 0.3% while property crime increased by 1.8%. The median income in this safe community is $108,352 and most residents own their own homes.
Village of Lake in the Hills/Facebook
Covering an area of just 10.44 square miles, Lake of the Hills has a population of 28,811 and offers a lake, several parks, and gated residential neighborhoods. From 2020 to 2021, both violent and property crime rates decreased by 0.4%.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Jumping 19 spots up the list of safest cities in Illinois since 2020, the Home of Popeye the Sailor Man saw a decrease of 0.7% in violent crime, although property crime rose by 1.1%. This safe city sits along the Mississippi River and has a population of 8,224 residents.
Inventorchris/Flickr
Formerly known as Westhaven, Orland Hills is the youngest village in southwest Cook County. This community of 7,066 residents is a suburb of Chicago that has highly-rated schools and an ever-present police force that patrols the neighborhoods frequently.
Slambo/Wikimedia Commons
Another village in the Chicago suburbs, Elburn actually saw an increase in both violent and property crimes at a rate of 0.2% and 1.2% respectively. However, this community of 5,967 is still top-rated in terms of safety Here you will find a commuter rail, annual community events, plenty of shopping and restaurants along with several parks. It’s considered an ideal place to raise a family.
Village of Lindenhurst, IL/Facebook
With a slightly larger population than many of the other communities on this list, Lindenhurst is home to 14,296 residents and is considered one of the best places to live in the Prairie State. Many families decide to raise their children in this Lake County village which has seen a 0.6% decrease in violent crime and a 1.1% decrease in property crime from 2020 to 2021.
*Hajee/Flickr
The safe suburban Cook County village of Inverness is home to 7,442 people and many parks for all to enjoy. As a new addition to the Safewise list, this community saw zero violent crime and relatively low property crime in 2021.
Hawthorn Woods is home to 8,651 people and offers several parks with recreational programs, an aquatic center, hiking and biking trails, and a police department that works closely with the community. It also has a designation of an International Dark Sky Community. From 2020 to 2021, this village saw an increase of 0.2% in violent crime but a decrease of 2.9% in property crime. Not only is it one of the safest places in Illinois, but one of the safest in the nation.
Holding onto the top spot of safest cities in Illinois is Campton Hills, which saw no change in its low violent crime rate and only a slight increase of 0.1% in property crime from 2020 to 2021. This upscale community has a population of 11,202 and is surrounded by forest and hills, making it a wonderful place for those seeking both safety and a quieter life out in the suburbs.
From the safest to the most dangerous, visit our post on The 13 Most Dangerous Places In Illinois After Dark.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Campton Hills, IL, USAAddress: Hawthorn Woods, IL, USAAddress: Inverness, IL, USAAddress: Lindenhurst, IL 60046, USAAddress: Elburn, IL 60119, USAAddress: Orland Hills, IL, USAAddress: Chester, IL 62233, USAAddress: Lake in the Hills, IL, USAAddress: Gilberts, IL, USAAddress: Huntley, IL 60142, USA
