Choosing where to raise a family can impact the way a child sees the world.
Niche, a website offering rankings and statistics on towns, schools and colleges, recently released its 2024 Places with the Lowest Cost of Living in the Chicago suburbs. It offers a look at the most affordable places for families in the Chicago suburbs to call home based on a variety of factors including an area’s home value to income ratio, median rent, gas prices, grocery costs and more.
These statistics were calculated based on the consumer price index and access to affordable housing using data from the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor and Statistics. You can find the full methodology here.
Find the most affordable places to live by county:
- Most Affordable Places to Live in Cook County
- Most Affordable Places to Live in DuPage County
- Most Affordable Places to Live in Lake County
Here are the top 10 most affordable places to live in the Chicago suburbs on the list:
Hodgkins
- Average home value: $38,100
- Population: 1,714
Hodgkins Park District manages a large community center and park system with scheduled activities year round.
Hometown
- Average home value: $151,400
- Population: 4,299
Hometown, a town with several community parks and recreation centers, scores an “A” from Niche for diversity and an “A-” in outdoor activities and good for families categories.
Ford Heights
- Average home value: $42,200
- Population: 1,618
This affordable suburb of Chicago scores an “A” in the commuting category from Niche. Students attend Ford Heights School District 169 and Bloom Township High School District 206.
Robbins
- Average home value: $105,600
- Population: 4,804
Robbins offers residents excellent commuting options and above average public schools all in an affordable community.
Steger
- Average home value: $121,900
- Population: 9,518
Steger’s two main parks, Harold Hecht Park and Veteran’s Park, are well loved by residents.
East Side
- Average home value: $141,648
- Population: 23,894
Outdoor activity options are some of East Side’s strongest offerings for families. This suburb has a park on Lake Michigan, Calumet Park, and a forest, Eggers Grove Forest Preserve.
Thornton
- Average home value: $130,400
- Population: 2,169
Plenty of shopping and restaurant options, including the historic Thornton Distilling Company, the oldest standing brewery in the state.
Forest View
- Average home value: $249,600
- Population: 1,078
Forest View’s park district includes volleyball courts, a tennis court and softball field. Families enjoy a walking track and updated playground equipment, too.
South Chicago Heights
- Average home value: $121,500
- Population: 3,986
This smaller suburb of Chicago packs a diverse set of local cultures between its borders. It scores a “B+” from Niche in the outdoor activities, cost of living and commuting categories, too.
Burnside
- Average home value: $144,900
- Population: 2,246
The affordable Chicago suburb of Burnside has an urban suburban mix and most residents own their home.
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