Mayor 'Beyond Proud' As Buffalo Grove Ranks High In Best Places To Live List

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — According to an annual rating of the best places to live in the country, it's a good time to be a resident of Buffalo Grove.

Niche, a data-driven platform, has released its 2026 Best Places to Live list. In its 12th year, the report analyzes places of various sizes and then ranks them based on quality of life issues. The ranking includes 230 cities and 18,000 towns, suburbs and neighborhoods.

Here is how Buffalo Grove fared in the rankings:

• No. 1 — Best Place To Live In Lake County
• No. 4 — Best Place To Live In Illinois
• No. 4 — Best Suburb To Live In In Illinois
• No. 31 — Best Suburb To Live In America
• No. 6 — Place With The Best Public Schools In Illinois
• No. 47 — Place With The Best Public Schools In America

"This recognition is a testament to the values that define Buffalo Grove," Village President Eric Smith said. "From top-tier schools and safe neighborhoods to a strong sense of community, BG continues to be a place where people choose to live, work, learn, and raise their families. I'm beyond proud to see our community once again recognized at both the state and national level."

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In addition to the rankings, Niche also released a report card for Buffalo Grove, for which it received an A+ overall grade. Here are the village's scores broken down by categories:

• Public schools A+
• Crime and safety B
• Housing A-
• Nightlife A-
• Diversity A-
• Jobs A-
• Weather C+
• Cost of living B-
• Health & Fitness A+
• Outdoor activities A
• Commute B+

"Buffalo Grove's continued recognition reflects its strong commitment to high-quality services, exceptional schools, safe neighborhoods, and a vibrant community atmosphere," Village officials said regarding the honor.

Among states overall, Illinois ranks in eighth place. The state's highest marks were in five categories: outdoor activities, best city to live, best place to raise a family, lowest cost of living and most diverse.