OK, for what it's worth.....
a company called Movoto Real Estate has ranked Illinois cities based on a variety of criteria:
- amenities
- cost of living
- crime
- education
- employment
- home value
and the results?
The top 10 -- all of which happen to be in the Chicago area:
- Northbrook
- Highland Park
- Glenview
- Park Ridge
- Elmhurst
- Wheaton
- Arlington Heights
- Downers Grove
- Palatine
- Mount Prospect
Why did they choose these 10?
You'll also see the rest of the top 50 list there.
As far as downstate cities go:
#11 Normal
#14 Bloomington
#19 Champaign
#28 Urbana
#31 Springfield
And #44..... DECATUR!!
Whoop whoop!!
Decatur's rank by category:
- amenities 25
- cost of living 8
- crime 42
- education 34
- employment 43
- home value 48
Check out the great info. I was surprised not to see Greenville, Fairview Heights, or Charleston.
Out for now....
Matt