0 Shares
Last Updated on: 6th May 2024, 08:51 pm
Chicago is in Cook County, IL, and the county has 5,169,517 residents, which is a population density of 5,470.8 per square mile. With Chicago being so popular, the cities nearby are a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of life. But you might be questioning which one is the best for your lifestyle. Rather than spending hours conducting research, we’re breaking it all down for you. Here are the largest cities throughout Illinois.
Table of Contents
Largest Cities Near Chicago, IL
Chicago is the largest city in Illinois, with a population of 2,699,347. The population density is 11,853.3 people per square mile. The beautiful city of Chicago is famous for its architecture, deep-dish pizza, and the Taste of Chicago Food Festival.
Some of the iconic sights throughout Chicago include: the Navy River, the Riverwalk, Cloud Gate, Skydeck Chicago, and The Art Institute of Chicago.
While some people love the hustle and bustle of living in a big city, if you’re not one of them, that’s okay, and we’ll share smaller towns and villages near Chicago later in the article. But for now, if you’re looking for a big city within 50 miles, here is a breakdown of the top surrounding cities of Chicago.
Berwyn | 12 miles from Chicago
The population of Berwyn is 54,850. It has a population density of 14,048 per square mile. Berwyn, IL, is popular for its Chicago-style bungalows, and it has a total crime rate of 1,296 per 100k people, which is 47.7% lower than the national average–making it a safe and family-friendly community.
Some of the top-rated attractions and restaurants within Berwyn include: Proksa Park, Connie’s Family Restaurant, La Parra Restaurant & Bar, Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits, Gaia Ristorante Italiano, and Lavergne’s Tavern.
Berwyn Stats And Information
- Berwyn Square Miles: 3.9
- Berwyn County: Cook
- Berwyn Median Home Price: $295,000
- Berwyn Median Household Income: $61,915
- Berwyn Homes For Sale
Oak Park | 9 miles from Chicago
Oak Park is famous for their beautiful parks and museums. Whether you spend your day at the Oak Park Conservatory, have a sunset picnic at Scoville Park, or make your way to the Wonder Works Children’s Museum, there are plenty of family-friendly activities within the Oak Park area.
The population in Oak Park is 52,102. Oak Park has a population density of 11,086 per square mile. Oak Park is also well famous for being the “Largest Village In The World” and a great place to settle down.
While the village was originally named Oak Ridge after the abundance of oak trees, they changed the name to match the businesses within the area (like the Oak Park post office).
If you love nature, then Oak Park is the place for you!
Oak Park Stats And Information
- Oak Park Square Miles: 4.7
- Oak Park County: Cook
- Oak Park Median Home Price: $399,000
- Oak Park Median Household Income: $96,945
- Oak Park Homes For Sale
Aurora | 42 miles from Chicago
Known as the “City of Lights” because of being one of the first areas to be illuminated with electric lights, Aurora is the second largest (population-wise) city within Illinois. Interestingly enough, Aurora is throughout four counties. The population in Aurora, IL, is 199,326, and the population density is 4,427.2 people per square mile.
Aurora is the perfect place for you to consider living in if you have kids because of their endless family-friendly activities! Some of the most popular attractions include: Phillips Park Zoo, Blackberry Farm, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Basem*nt of the Dead Haunted House, RiverEdge Park, Oakhurst Forest Preserve, and Waubonsie Lake Park.
The total crime rate is 1,266 per 100k people, which is 48.9% lower than the national average.
Aurora Stats And Information
- Aurora Square Miles: 45.91
- Aurora County: DuPage, Kane, Kendall, & Will
- Aurora Median Home Price: $305,500
- Aurora Median Household Income: $74,659
- Aurora Homes For Sale
Naperville | 33 miles from Chicago
Naperville, IL, is a wealthy, safe, and family-friendly community with high-quality schools–making it a great place to plant your roots.
In 2022, Naperville was ranked fourth on the “Livabilitie’s List Of Top 100 Places To Live In The US.” Also, in 2020, Naperville was ranked #1 on “SafeWise’s America’s Safest Cities To Raise A Child Report.”
The most popular attractions and restaurants in Naperville include: Naper Settlement, Riverwalk Park, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Ball Factory Playground, DuPage Children’s Museum, Meson Sabika, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, VAI’s Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar, and Fire It Up Naperville.
The population density is 3,780.6 people per square mile.
Naperville Stats And Information
- Naperville Square Miles: 39.70
- Naperville County: DuPage and Will
- Naperville Median Home Price: $510,000
- Naperville Median Household Income: $127,648
- Naperville Homes For Sale
Joliet | 45 miles from Chicago
Joliet, IL, is a shipping and transportation centre. The total crime rate is 1,965 per 100k people, which is 20.7% lower than the national average. The population in Joliet is 147,323, and the population density is 2,283.5 people per square mile.
The most notable landmarks include: Jacob Henry Mansion, Rialto Square Theatre, and the post office from 1903.
If you’re looking for something fun to do on the weekend, you have plenty of options! Here are some of the most popular: the Joliet Area Historical Museum, Route 66 Park, Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet, and Sky Zone Trampoline Park.
Joliet Stats And Information
- Joliet Square Miles: 65.82
- Joliet County: Will & Kendall
- Joliet Median Home Price: $250,000
- Joliet Median Household Income: $72,871
- Joliet Homes For Sale
Bolingbrook | 30 miles from Chicago
Bolingbrook, IL, is an affluent town and is famous for being the home to the Boughton Ridge Golf Course. This beautiful town is one of the best places to call home. The total crime rate is 1,025 per 100k residents, which is 58.6% lower than the national average. The population density is 2,991.4 people per square mile.
When you’re in Bolingbrook, you need to check out these fun attractions: Escape hOUR Room, Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Park, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Wilderness Falls, Brookfield Zoo, and Johansen Farms Children’s Zoo & Pumpkin Farm.
Bolingbrook Stats And Information
- Bolingbrook Square Miles: 25.12
- Bolingbrook County: Will & DuPage
- Bolingbrook Median Home Price: $305,000
- Bolingbrook Median Household Income: $92,184
- Bolingbrook Homes For Sale
Cicero | 9 miles from Chicago
While there are fun activities to do in Cicero, like the Clyde Park District Pool, Hawthorne Works, and Cicero Community park, this city is more of a “foodie” community. There are endless restaurants to try. Some of the most popular include: BRASAS, Stacks Cicero, Cocula Restaurant, Taqueria Aguascalientes, Indio Restaurant, and Freddy’s Pizza.
As one of the oldest municipalities in Illinois, Cicero is the only incorporated town within Cook County. The total crime rate is 2,260 per 100k residents, which is 8.7% lower than the national average. The population in Cicero is 81,471, and the population density is 13,890.9 people per square mile.
Cicero Stats And Information
- Cicero Square Miles: 5.87
- Cicero County: Cook
- Cicero Median Home Price: $267,500
- Cicero Median Household Income: $53,726
- Cicero Homes For Sale
Des Plaines | 20 miles from Chicago
Did you know Des Plaines, IL, is home to the first Mcdonald’s Franchise? This town grew a lot after World War II, and due to the increase of residents, Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s location in 1955.
If you’re looking for fun after-work or weekend activities, here are some of the most popular things to do in Des Plaines: Lake Park, Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, Rivers Casino Des Plaines, Prairie Lakes Park, and Mountain View Adventure Center.
The population in Des Plaines is 58,316, and the population density is 4,095.8 people per square mile. The total crime rate in Des Plaines is 1,196 per 100k people, which is 51.7% lower than the national average.
Des Plaines Stats And Information
- Des Plaines Square Miles: 14.38
- Des Plaines County: Cook
- Des Plaines Median Home Price: $290,500
- Des Plaines Median Household Income: $73,639
- Des Plaines Homes For Sale
Other Cities In Chicago
If you’re someone that doesn’t like living in a big city or town, don’t worry because Chicago has plenty of cities that will meet your needs.
Here is a list of cities near Chicago with a minimum of 20,000 residents but no more than 50,000– allowing this to still have “small town vibes” without it being too tiny that there isn’t a local grocery store. These cities are also close enough to Chicago that if you need to commute there for work, you can easily travel and not get stuck in the car for hours.
On our list, we have five towns and cities around Chicago 45 miles or less and have a population between 20,000 and 50,000.
Towns & Cities Near Chicago
| Towns & Cities Near Chicago (20,000 to 49,999 Population) | County | Population (2020) | Distance From Chicago |
| Elmwood Park | Cook County | 24,274 | 13 miles |
| Elk Grove Village | Cook & DuPage County | 32,450 | 23 miles |
| Geneva | Kane County | 21,843 | 41 miles |
| Carol Stream | DuPage | 39,447 | 34 miles |
| Maywood | Cook County | 23,351 | 12 miles |
Geneva is one of the safest cities in the United States. The total crime rate is 735 per 100k people, which is 70.3% lower than the national average–living in Geneva is great and one of the best places to plant your roots.
Map Of Cities Near Chicago And Surrounding Area
Small Cities & Towns Near Chicago Illinois
If you’re looking for an even smaller town near Chicago to call home, we’re here to help. Our team has created a list of cities near Chicago with a population under 20,000. While a majority of these cities are under 50 miles away, there are two within 60+ miles away, and we decided to include Sycamore and Waterman due to the quality of life.
| City/Town/Village (0-19,999 Population) | County | Population (2020) | Distance From Chicago (miles) |
| River Grove | Cook County | 9,957 | 14 miles |
| Bensenville | DuPage County | 18,273 | 22 miles |
| Waterman | DeKalb | 1,738 | 63 miles |
| Sycamore | DeKalb | 17,990 | 66 miles |
| Riverside | Cook County | 8,748 | 16.8 miles |
| Brookfield | Cook County | 18,520 | 15 miles |
Major Cities Near Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in Illinois, but what are some of the other major cities nearby? We created a list of the top cities within a 150 to 300-mile radius. These are perfect if you want a quick weekend away without spending hours in the car.
Major Cities Near Chicago, Illinois
| Cities | Population (2020) | Distance From Chicago, IL |
| Milwaukee, WI | 592,649 | 102 miles |
| Madison, WI | 660,212 | 147 miles |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 268,378 | 162 miles |
| Indianapolis, IN | 869,387 | 194 miles |
| Toledo, OH | 275,116 | 250 miles |
| Detroit, MI | 672,351 | 300 miles |
| Cincinnati, OH | 302,687 | 295 miles |
| Saint Louis, MO | 304,709 | 297 miles |
| Peoria, IL | 112,644 | 155 miles |
| Nashville, TN | 689,447 | 442 miles |
Chicago Area Cities FAQ
What Major Cities Are Near Chicago?
The major cities near Chicago include:
- Milwaukee, WI = 102 miles away
- Madison, WI = 147 miles away
- Fort Wayne, IN = 162 miles away
- Indianapolis, IN = 194 miles away
- Toledo, OH = 250 miles away
- Detroit, MI = 300 miles away
- Cincinnati, OH = 295 miles away
- Saint Louis, MO = 297 miles away
- Peoria, IL = 155 miles away
What Are The Closest Cities To Chicago?
The closest cities to Chicago are the following:
- Berwyn
- Oak Park
- Aurora
- Naperville
- Joliet
- Cicero
- Des Plaines
- Elmwood Park
- Elk Grove Village
- Geneva
- Carol Stream
- Maywood
What Is The Closest City To Chicago?
According to the map, there is a tie for the closest city to Chicago between Oak Park and Cicero for being about 9 miles away.
Chicago, IL, is one of the best places to live in America due to its rich culture, architecture, arts, and diversity. If you’re interested in making Chicago or one of the many nearby cities your home, we have your back! Federal Companies are a trustworthy, professional, hardworking, and dedicated team of Chicago movers that is here to make your transition seamless! Call us today at (800) 747-4100 for a free estimate!
