When you’re thinking about a place to live, you consider a lot of things. You probably want a place with at least some amenities, but you don’t necessarily want to live in a sprawling metropolis. This list of Illinois towns are going to be just right for you.
- Woodstock
Cosmo1976/Wikimedia Located in northern Illinois, Woodstock has just around 25,000 people. It is a nice town with loads of festivals and live music. It is known for being the location of the movie “Groundhog Day.”
- St. Charles
KeyBdn/Wikimedia In the Chicagoland area, St. Charles has around 33,000 people. The gorgeous Fox River runs through the center of town. It has been voted the best place for families. Its library was voted as one of the best in the country.
- Marion
Ruhe1986/Wikimedia Marion is located in southern Illinois and it has a population of just around 18,000 people. Little Egypt Arts Gallery is located in downtown Marion. There is also the Williamson County Historical Society museum and the Marion Carnegie Library.
- Alton
Illinois2011/wikimedia Located in southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River, there are around 27,000 people. There are some awesome views of the Mississippi River, and it is great to watch eagles. Be sure to visit the World’s Tallest Man Statue!
- Batavia
G Le Tourneau/Wikimedia Batavia has around 26,000 people and is located outside of Chicago. It is known as the Windmill City because of its several windmill factories. It is also home to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The Depot Museum (pictured here) and water fountain are top attractions in the town.
- Carbondale
explorecdale/Wikimedia This southern Illinois town has around 26,000 people. It is known for being home to SIU Carbondale. It is located in an incredibly gorgeous area, right by Shawnee National Forest. There is plenty of good food here, whether from nice restaurants or farmers markets.
- Charleston
Bubba73/Flickr In central Illinois on the east side, Charleston has about 22,000 people. It is home to Eastern Illinois University. The downtown has pretty 19th century architecture and interesting shops. People love to hang out at Lake Charleston.
- Crest Hill
CrestHillAdmin/Wikimedia This town is located just outside of Chicago. It has a population of around 21,000 people. You might know Crest Hill because of Stateville prison, where many killers (including Gacy) were put to death. Fortunately, the town residents are nice and the town has a friendly feel. There are plenty of places to eat. It is right by Lockport, and residents can use some of their amenities, too.
- Dixon
framerofblues/Wikimedia Dixon has around 15,000 people. It is located in northwestern Illinois. Dixon is a pretty town, known as the “Petunia City” for its flowers. It also was the home of Ronald Reagan when he was a child.
- Edwardsville
Illinois2011/Wikimedia Edwardsville is located in southern Illinois and is home to SIU Edwardsville. It has a population of around 24,000 people. Trails and a wildlife preserve make this a nice place for those who enjoy the outdoors. It has also been named one of the top places to raise kids.
- Glen Ellyn
dmadeo/Wikimedia Located in Chicagoland, Glen Ellyn has a population of around 27,000 people. While there is nice proximity to Chicago, there is enough to do here. There is a nice arts theater and little shops downtown.
- Huntley
Huntley Library/Wikimedia Huntley is located in northeastern Illinois, and it has 25,000 people. The town is super friendly, and has a gorgeous town square. There is also a full brick-paved street. It is super charming.
Do you live in any of these towns?
Cosmo1976/Wikimedia
Located in northern Illinois, Woodstock has just around 25,000 people. It is a nice town with loads of festivals and live music. It is known for being the location of the movie “Groundhog Day.”
KeyBdn/Wikimedia
In the Chicagoland area, St. Charles has around 33,000 people. The gorgeous Fox River runs through the center of town. It has been voted the best place for families. Its library was voted as one of the best in the country.
Ruhe1986/Wikimedia
Marion is located in southern Illinois and it has a population of just around 18,000 people. Little Egypt Arts Gallery is located in downtown Marion. There is also the Williamson County Historical Society museum and the Marion Carnegie Library.
Illinois2011/wikimedia
Located in southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River, there are around 27,000 people. There are some awesome views of the Mississippi River, and it is great to watch eagles. Be sure to visit the World’s Tallest Man Statue!
G Le Tourneau/Wikimedia
Batavia has around 26,000 people and is located outside of Chicago. It is known as the Windmill City because of its several windmill factories. It is also home to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The Depot Museum (pictured here) and water fountain are top attractions in the town.
explorecdale/Wikimedia
This southern Illinois town has around 26,000 people. It is known for being home to SIU Carbondale. It is located in an incredibly gorgeous area, right by Shawnee National Forest. There is plenty of good food here, whether from nice restaurants or farmers markets.
Bubba73/Flickr
In central Illinois on the east side, Charleston has about 22,000 people. It is home to Eastern Illinois University. The downtown has pretty 19th century architecture and interesting shops. People love to hang out at Lake Charleston.
CrestHillAdmin/Wikimedia
This town is located just outside of Chicago. It has a population of around 21,000 people. You might know Crest Hill because of Stateville prison, where many killers (including Gacy) were put to death. Fortunately, the town residents are nice and the town has a friendly feel. There are plenty of places to eat. It is right by Lockport, and residents can use some of their amenities, too.
framerofblues/Wikimedia
Dixon has around 15,000 people. It is located in northwestern Illinois. Dixon is a pretty town, known as the “Petunia City” for its flowers. It also was the home of Ronald Reagan when he was a child.
Illinois2011/Wikimedia
Edwardsville is located in southern Illinois and is home to SIU Edwardsville. It has a population of around 24,000 people. Trails and a wildlife preserve make this a nice place for those who enjoy the outdoors. It has also been named one of the top places to raise kids.
dmadeo/Wikimedia
Located in Chicagoland, Glen Ellyn has a population of around 27,000 people. While there is nice proximity to Chicago, there is enough to do here. There is a nice arts theater and little shops downtown.
Huntley Library/Wikimedia
Huntley is located in northeastern Illinois, and it has 25,000 people. The town is super friendly, and has a gorgeous town square. There is also a full brick-paved street. It is super charming.
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