Illinois Makes Nationwide List of Safest, Most Affordable Cities

Discover which Illinois city finished high on MoneyGeek's recent survey of the safest and most affordable cities in the U.S. This city is also home to the best hole-in-the-wall breakfast place in America.

Safe and Affordable Places to Live

Some good Illinois news to report, thanks to a new nationwide survey of safe and affordable cities from MoneyGeek.

To find out which cities are both “safe” and “affordable,” MoneyGeek analyzed the safest small and mid-to-large cities in the U.S. Then they factored in the following stats: recent changes in median household income, the monthly mortgage cost as a percentage of household income, and the monthly food costs as a percentage of household income.

Most Important Thing in Real Estate

Location, location, location is the most-heard response to the question of the most important rule in real estate. While being close to our favorite grocery stores and restaurants, how far it is to the best parks, and work-to-home commute times matter, NOTHING matters more than how SAFE that location is, and how AFFORDABLE IT IS.

MoneyGeek published two different groups of best safe and affordable cities based on size, Small and Mid-to-Large.

Illinois has only one city that made the list of Best Mid-to-Large Safe and Affordable Cities in the US.

Besides this city's high scores in the survey, it also happens to be the location of one of the best hole-in-the-wall diners where you just might have the best breakfast you've ever.

Best Hole-in-the-Wall Breakfast Place in Illinois

Cheapism just published the Best Hole-in-the-Wall Breakfast Place in Every State and in Illinois, it's Ray's Family Restaurant.

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The BEST place for breakfast is the 5th SAFEST and MOST AFFORDABLE city in the United States.

The Top 5 Safest & Affordable Mid-to-Large Sized US Cities

1. Westminster, Colorado

2. Surprise, Arizona

3. Thorton, Colorado

4. Arvada, Colorado

5. Elgin, Illinois

In other Elgin news, they have the most ridiculous photo entry into the gallery of The 19 Stupidest Parking Jobs in Illinois.

For a deep dive into the methodology and the rest of the rankings, click HERE.

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