Americans have long looked toward the suburbs for more space, better schools — qualities which often come with a big cost. But Illinoisans are in luck. Of the country’s 10 most affordable, amenity-rich suburbs, half are in Illinois, according to a new ranking by StorageCafe.
Cross-referencing Zillow’s home price data with StorageCafe’s recent list of the most city-like suburbs, Schaumburg came in at No. 1, followed by Lombard, Skokie, Bloomingdale and Vernon Hills.
Schaumburg is the most populous incorporated village in the U.S., and, with a median home price of $291,186, it’s also one of the most affordable. Additionally, Schaumburg boasts many entertainment and dining options, plus a bustling office sector.
Coming in at No. 3, Lombard has a slightly more expensive median home price, $334,000, but is also slightly closer to the city of Chicago. Even closer to the city than Lombard, though, is Skokie which came in at No. 4 with a median home price of $361,582.
A bit lower on the list are Bloomingdale and Vernon Hills, No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. In Bloomingdale, the median home price is $376,642; in Vernon Hills, it’s $379,776.
However, it’s worth noting that homes in all five of these local suburbs cost more than in their principal city; the median price is $291,186 in Chicago.
The full list of the top 10 most affordable suburbs includes:
1. Schaumburg
2. Decatur, Georgia
3. Lombard
4. Skokie
5. Fort Myers, Florida
6. Bloomingdale
7. Vernon Hills
8. Hackensack, New Jersey
9. Woodbridge, New Jersey
10. Troy, Michigan