Skokie Makes List Of Best Places To Live In U.S.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings look at value, desirability, job markets and the quality of life in U.S. cities.

By Rachel Barnes, Patch Staff

May 26, 2026 12:29 pm CDT

Skokie ranked at 156 on the list with a score of 6.1 out of 10, moving up the list from last year when it ranked 230th. (Rachel Barnes/Patch)

SKOKIE, IL — Skokie ranked in the top 200 places to live in the U.S., according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report that looks at value, desirability, job markets and the quality of life in U.S. cities.

Skokie ranked at 156 on the list with a score of 6.1 out of 10, moving up the list from last year when it ranked 230th. The village is ranked 10th for best places to live in Illinois.

Those in Illinois named to the Best Places to Live In the U.S. in 2026-27 are:

Buffalo Grove is ranked as the best place in Illinois to live and the 15th best place to live in the U.S.
Naperville follows, coming in at No. 26 on the U.S. News & World Report list.
Other Illinois towns to make the list, include: Arlington Heights at 32, Palatine at 46, Bolingbrook at 71, Elgin at 72, Bloomington at 74, Schaumburg at 94, Des Plaines at 144, Skokie at 156, Aurora at 206, Springfield at 231and Cicero at 240.

U.S. News said measures were weighted in part based on a public survey of thousands of individuals throughout the country to find what qualities they consider important in a place to live. The news outlet also used its own internal research data, as well as data from U.S. agencies, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“As prices of everyday goods continue to rise, consumers are considering affordability as a top priority when choosing a place to live,” Erika Giovanetti, consumer lending analyst at U.S. News & World Report, said in a news release. “While U.S. News’ consumer survey indicated that quality of life and affordability were close in importance, cost-of-living concerns resulted in many Americans putting what they can afford above their aspirations.”