| City | Population | Overall Score | Unemployment Rank | 22-29 Rank | Attained Bachelor's Degree Rank | Bachelor's Earnings Rank | Professional Occupations Rank | Cost of Living Rank | Big Deal Score |
| Lisle | 22,557 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 21 | 22 | 34 | 44 | 3.85 |
| Mokena | 18,772 | 2 | 31 | 36 | 54 | 21 | 54 | 34 | 5.95 |
| Round Lake | 18,216 | 3 | 17 | 52 | 44 | 18 | 45 | 35 | 6.13 |
| Woodridge | 33,119 | 4 | 54 | 15 | 35 | 74 | 52 | 18 | 6.17 |
| Tinley Park | 56,810 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 53 | 54 | 62 | 12 | 6.23 |
| Palatine | 68,738 | 6 | 29 | 28 | 34 | 39 | 44 | 67 | 6.72 |
| Lombard | 43,492 | 7 | 51 | 20 | 41 | 47 | 51 | 59 | 6.92 |
| Buffalo Grove | 41,663 | 8 | 18 | 58 | 10 | 27 | 15 | 75 | 7.02 |
| Evanston | 74,937 | 9 | 46 | 7 | 37 | 70 | 12 | 85 | 7.1 |
| Lake Villa | 8,873 | 10 | 43 | 64 | 20 | 17 | 42 | 50 | 7.18 |
| Plainfield | 39,952 | 11 | 19 | 81 | 28 | 11 | 33 | 44 | 7.22 |
| Shorewood | 15,906 | 12 | 57 | 73 | 48 | 15 | 46 | 23 | 7.43 |
| Wheaton | 53,245 | 13 | 37 | 33 | 13 | 59 | 23 | 79 | 7.47 |
| Frankfort | 17,958 | 14 | 6 | 88 | 28 | 4 | 26 | 60 | 7.53 |
| University Park | 6,987 | 15 | 100 | 4 | 75 | 90 | 84 | 1 | 7.55 |
| Crest Hill | 20,872 | 16 | 63 | 3 | 91 | 101 | 81 | 4 | 7.57 |
| New Lenox | 24,536 | 17 | 10 | 80 | 57 | 25 | 48 | 25 | 7.58 |
| Downers Grove | 48,964 | 18 | 24 | 56 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 77 | 7.58 |
| Carol Stream | 39,970 | 19 | 66 | 23 | 49 | 53 | 66 | 50 | 7.6 |
| La Grange Park | 13,602 | 20 | 42 | 44 | 38 | 31 | 36 | 76 | 7.7 |
| Oak Forest | 28,053 | 21 | 82 | 8 | 72 | 73 | 69 | 35 | 7.72 |
| Flossmoor | 9,317 | 22 | 23 | 70 | 27 | 35 | 14 | 60 | 7.73 |
| Arlington Heights | 75,492 | 22 | 22 | 55 | 24 | 33 | 29 | 79 | 7.73 |
| Cary | 18,165 | 24 | 61 | 65 | 25 | 20 | 38 | 54 | 7.78 |
| Round Lake Beach | 28,114 | 24 | 70 | 27 | 96 | 45 | 94 | 18 | 7.78 |
| Oak Park | 51,902 | 26 | 36 | 38 | 31 | 56 | 9 | 83 | 7.8 |
| Monee | 5,114 | 27 | 14 | 57 | 68 | 69 | 76 | 2 | 7.85 |
| Crete | 8,283 | 28 | 59 | 32 | 61 | 89 | 57 | 12 | 7.92 |
| Rolling Meadows | 23,655 | 29 | 47 | 24 | 65 | 55 | 72 | 57 | 8 |
| Worth | 10,805 | 30 | 89 | 9 | 92 | 66 | 91 | 25 | 8.02 |
| Vernon Hills | 25,325 | 31 | 38 | 66 | 15 | 24 | 31 | 77 | 8.07 |
| Lake in the Hills | 28,932 | 32 | 63 | 61 | 60 | 41 | 68 | 17 | 8.17 |
| Mount Prospect | 54,436 | 33 | 33 | 41 | 51 | 44 | 58 | 70 | 8.22 |
| Midlothian | 14,852 | 34 | 91 | 30 | 83 | 60 | 74 | 18 | 8.23 |
| Countryside | 5,929 | 35 | 49 | 47 | 70 | 37 | 73 | 44 | 8.25 |
| Westmont | 24,943 | 35 | 75 | 11 | 46 | 85 | 43 | 64 | 8.25 |
| Berwyn | 56,626 | 37 | 85 | 6 | 85 | 77 | 85 | 35 | 8.28 |
| West Chicago | 27,286 | 38 | 76 | 29 | 74 | 76 | 87 | 11 | 8.30 |
| Dolton | 23,228 | 39 | 104 | 16 | 87 | 79 | 82 | 14 | 8.45 |
| Villa Park | 22,023 | 40 | 65 | 21 | 59 | 72 | 71 | 54 | 8.50 |
| Itasca | 8,442 | 41 | 20 | 39 | 40 | 64 | 60 | 73 | 8.52 |
| Clarendon Hills | 8,498 | 42 | 1 | 94 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 94 | 8.57 |
| Orland Park | 57,194 | 43 | 53 | 59 | 52 | 29 | 47 | 64 | 8.58 |
| Riverside | 8,913 | 44 | 32 | 75 | 36 | 19 | 18 | 84 | 8.62 |
| Des Plaines | 58,569 | 45 | 21 | 46 | 56 | 63 | 64 | 57 | 8.65 |
| Summit | 11,274 | 46 | 86 | 2 | 98 | 88 | 104 | 25 | 8.67 |
| River Forest | 11,183 | 47 | 8 | 93 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 95 | 8.68 |
| Brookfield | 18,968 | 47 | 45 | 53 | 62 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 8.68 |
| Addison | 37,126 | 49 | 79 | 25 | 77 | 48 | 89 | 54 | 8.73 |
| Western Springs | 13,008 | 50 | 15 | 99 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 96 | 8.77 |