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Best Places to Live for Families

Rank
9
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West Chicago

Known as a major bicycling and outdoor recreation hub, the town is also just a quick train ride from all the action in downtown Chicago. 

The railroads first helped put West Chicago on the map. Today residents can still catch a train and ride about 30 miles into downtown Chicago. Courtesy of City of West Chicago Government
  • State
    Illinois
  • County
    DuPage
  • Population
    25,968

Located just 40 miles outside the Windy City, West Chicago is best known for being the first Illinois community established in the wake of the arrival of the railroads.

 

For outdoor lovers, the city features vast green spaces and multiple connections to the Illinois Prairie Path, a 61-mile recreational nature trail network. The West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve spans 358 acres and is home to more than 600 species of native plants and animals. There’s also the West Chicago Park District, which includes 125-acre Reed-Keppler Park. The family-friendly park features a 25-acre nature sanctuary; aquatic center; skate park; dog park; two playgrounds, and several athletic fields.

 

West Chicago’s bustling art scene includes a community art gallery featuring local artists and an annual art banner exhibit wherein regional and national artists are invited to create and submit artwork that reflects the year’s theme. Meanwhile, the West Chicago City Museum combines the city’s rich railroad history and dedication to the arts.

 

To encourage healthy eating and physical activity among residents, the nonprofit organization Healthy West Chicago hosts events and programs, such as community cooking classes, family wellness walks, and the annual Healthy West Chicago 5K Fun Run on the Prairie Path. —LTP

Town information

Median sale price for single family residences (2022)$306,000
Median household income$91,857
Racial breakdownBlack: 4.5%, Asian: 8.3%, Hispanic: 51.7%, White, non-Hispanic: 34.9%
U.S. racial breakdownBlack: 13.6%, Asian: 6.1%, Hispanic: 18.9%, White, non-Hispanic: 59.3%
Sharecare Community Well-Being Index Score (out of 100)74
District high school graduation rate95.3%
Number of quality family medicine doctors (rated 3.5 or higher) per 100,000 households, within 25 miles48
Number of quality nursing homes per 100,000 households, within 25 miles44
Sources: Witlytic, ATTOM Data Solutions, STI: Popstats, the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, the Kaiser Family Foundation, Caring.com, Healthgrades, and Sharecare.