Naturally, we all probably wish we were living the American Dream after watching movies that portray a very happy family with a white picket fence, big white house, and owning everything they've ever wanted.For this one Illinois city, that dream isn't too far out of reach for them!  According to SmartAsset, they listed the best cities in the country to live the American Dream.

Surprisingly, Texas came in four times on the Top 10 list!  At #2, #3, #5, and #6, Texas seems like a winner in my eyes.

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Determining the Top 10 cities was based on five categories: homeownership rate, diversity rate, upward mobility rate, median home value and unemployment rate.

I have a feeling Naperville or Champaign took the #1 spot, but I could be very wrong.

Which Illinois city ranked the BEST out of all the cities in the country?

AURORA, ILLINOIS

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This doesn't mean other cities can't be the place you create YOUR American Dream, I think it might just be easier to achieve your goals and aspirations in Aurora than other surrounding cities.

READ MORE: National Burger Chain Swiftly Shutters Several Illinois Locations

Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin actually had a wonderful statement about his city:

I live the American Dream right here in Aurora every day," said Mayor Richard Irvin. "I went from a kid raised by a single mom in public housing who saw most of his friends go into gangs and drugs to joining the military, becoming a lawyer and now serving as the Mayor of our great city. If that isn't the American Dream, I don't know what is.

 

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Fun fact! Did you know Aurora is the 2nd LARGEST city in Illinois? Aurora is considered the "City of Lights" because it was one of the FIRST in the nation to light up its streets with electric lights.

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How do you feel about Aurora being #1 - Do you think another city deserved it way more than Aurora or does it make sense for it to be on top? I'm on the fence about it, there are so many wonderful cities and so many factors of what makes a city great to live an American Dream.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

The Safest Cities in Illinois & Wisconsin

Safewise did a study on the 100 safest cities in America. Eight of them are in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Gallery Credit: Unsplash

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