There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Illinois. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobsas in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Illinois cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Illinois. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 323 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Illinois.
The Illinoisan in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Illinois
Don’t freak out.
What’s the snobbiest place in Illinois? The snobbiest place in Illinois is Winnetka based on the data. If we had their wealth and lifestyle, we’d probably be a little snobby, too.
The most laid back? That would be East St. Louis.
We’re not so full of ourselves as to make this ranking up from nowhere. So here’s a look at the top ten and more on how we did it. And if you’re curious, Illinois is the 17th snobbiest in the United States.
For more Illinois reading, check out:
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Illinois For 2024
/10
% Highly Educated: 90.0%
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $1,450,397
More on Winnetka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 87.0%
Median Income: $228,750
Median Home Price: $1,230,212
More on Glencoe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 81.0%
Median Income: $250,001
Median Home Price: $1,010,524
More on Hinsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 79.0%
Median Income: $202,153
Median Home Price: $997,291
More on Lake Forest: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 84.0%
Median Income: $183,750
Median Home Price: $792,941
More on Wilmette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 82.0%
Median Income: $198,836
Median Home Price: $700,654
More on Western Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 73.0%
Median Income: $236,172
Median Home Price: $799,502
More on Long Grove: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 73.0%
Median Income: $215,817
Median Home Price: $632,847
More on Hawthorn Woods: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
/10
% Highly Educated: 80.0%
Median Income: $190,179
Median Home Price: $531,837
More on Lake Bluff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Prairie State
Do you think wed just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Illinois with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 323 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, its not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 323 places in each category with scores from one to 323. We then averaged each places ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Illinois. So lets all flip a table in honor of Winnetka (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, lets remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Illinois are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Illinois are Winnetka, Glencoe, Hinsdale, Lake Forest, Wilmette, Western Springs, Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, South Barrington, and Lake Bluff.
If you’re also curious enough, here are the most laid back places in Illinois, according to science:
- East St. Louis
- West Frankfort
- Harvey
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
- Richest Cities In Illinois
- Safest Places In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Illinois For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winnetka, IL | 12,607 | $250,001 | $1,450,397 | 90.0% |
| 2 | Glencoe, IL | 8,787 | $228,750 | $1,230,212 | 87.0% |
| 3 | Hinsdale, IL | 17,169 | $250,001 | $1,010,524 | 81.0% |
| 4 | Lake Forest, IL | 19,436 | $202,153 | $997,291 | 79.0% |
| 5 | Wilmette, IL | 27,801 | $183,750 | $792,941 | 84.0% |
| 6 | Western Springs, IL | 13,557 | $198,836 | $700,654 | 82.0% |
| 7 | Long Grove, IL | 8,279 | $236,172 | $799,502 | 73.0% |
| 8 | Hawthorn Woods, IL | 9,111 | $215,817 | $632,847 | 73.0% |
| 9 | South Barrington, IL | 5,001 | $226,042 | $957,504 | 66.0% |
| 10 | Lake Bluff, IL | 5,919 | $190,179 | $531,837 | 80.0% |
| 11 | Inverness, IL | 7,722 | $207,623 | $700,604 | 69.0% |
| 12 | Highland Park, IL | 30,209 | $159,567 | $633,282 | 76.0% |
| 13 | Deerfield, IL | 19,173 | $185,762 | $520,189 | 83.0% |
| 14 | Burr Ridge, IL | 11,131 | $174,342 | $724,731 | 70.0% |
| 15 | Northfield, IL | 5,707 | $146,538 | $689,829 | 77.0% |
| 16 | Lincolnshire, IL | 7,907 | $155,395 | $626,704 | 75.0% |
| 17 | Oak Brook, IL | 8,065 | $158,663 | $823,438 | 67.0% |
| 18 | River Forest, IL | 11,568 | $144,784 | $625,449 | 77.0% |
| 19 | Northbrook, IL | 34,950 | $150,236 | $573,899 | 73.0% |
| 20 | Barrington, IL | 11,244 | $160,171 | $536,565 | 71.0% |
| 21 | Libertyville, IL | 20,555 | $161,302 | $523,474 | 71.0% |
| 22 | Naperville, IL | 149,089 | $143,754 | $527,805 | 71.0% |
| 23 | Campton Hills, IL | 10,556 | $192,432 | $570,534 | 60.0% |
| 24 | Glenview, IL | 47,896 | $134,910 | $556,329 | 70.0% |
| 25 | Clarendon Hills, IL | 8,658 | $115,923 | $561,818 | 80.0% |
| 26 | Elmhurst, IL | 45,648 | $143,492 | $500,450 | 64.0% |
| 27 | Riverside, IL | 9,225 | $149,464 | $476,379 | 64.0% |
| 28 | La Grange, IL | 16,128 | $141,235 | $522,753 | 61.0% |
| 29 | Park Ridge, IL | 39,368 | $137,964 | $491,808 | 63.0% |
| 30 | Frankfort, IL | 20,260 | $157,615 | $439,784 | 60.0% |
| 31 | Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,304 | $128,132 | $483,880 | 68.0% |
| 32 | Geneva, IL | 21,390 | $132,799 | $465,349 | 61.0% |
| 33 | Lake Barrington, IL | 5,377 | $126,316 | $434,652 | 66.0% |
| 34 | Winfield, IL | 9,947 | $136,696 | $401,970 | 62.0% |
| 35 | Lake Zurich, IL | 19,749 | $135,211 | $420,351 | 58.0% |
| 36 | Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,934 | $127,553 | $378,470 | 66.0% |
| 37 | Wheaton, IL | 53,673 | $113,523 | $431,270 | 65.0% |
| 38 | Vernon Hills, IL | 26,750 | $117,253 | $378,263 | 66.0% |
| 39 | Downers Grove, IL | 49,996 | $115,461 | $424,001 | 58.0% |
| 40 | La Grange Park, IL | 13,332 | $113,419 | $412,033 | 61.0% |
| 41 | Plainfield, IL | 44,941 | $143,064 | $363,320 | 54.0% |
| 42 | Arlington Heights, IL | 76,794 | $113,502 | $403,495 | 59.0% |
| 43 | Lemont, IL | 17,558 | $128,694 | $491,388 | 45.0% |
| 44 | Oak Park, IL | 53,834 | $103,264 | $391,539 | 72.0% |
| 45 | Batavia, IL | 26,355 | $113,824 | $394,060 | 55.0% |
| 46 | Flossmoor, IL | 9,405 | $140,703 | $318,241 | 65.0% |
| 47 | Bartlett, IL | 40,829 | $126,555 | $383,920 | 49.0% |
| 48 | New Lenox, IL | 27,242 | $129,797 | $397,624 | 45.0% |
| 49 | Itasca, IL | 9,627 | $113,162 | $380,589 | 53.0% |
| 50 | Lisle, IL | 23,499 | $106,265 | $368,104 | 64.0% |
| 51 | St. Charles, IL | 32,776 | $110,346 | $402,795 | 52.0% |
| 52 | Mokena, IL | 19,886 | $122,235 | $406,985 | 45.0% |
| 53 | Darien, IL | 21,953 | $110,546 | $391,312 | 52.0% |
| 54 | Lincolnwood, IL | 13,268 | $99,390 | $473,704 | 57.0% |
| 55 | Evanston, IL | 77,181 | $93,188 | $410,543 | 69.0% |
| 56 | Elburn, IL | 5,958 | $106,347 | $400,516 | 52.0% |
| 57 | Sugar Grove, IL | 9,251 | $118,628 | $393,885 | 43.0% |
| 58 | Spring Grove, IL | 5,694 | $137,891 | $357,347 | 43.0% |
| 59 | Gurnee, IL | 30,629 | $112,633 | $331,348 | 55.0% |
| 60 | Homer Glen, IL | 24,507 | $130,235 | $460,898 | 38.0% |
| 61 | Algonquin, IL | 29,888 | $129,658 | $353,976 | 44.0% |
| 62 | Gilberts, IL | 8,180 | $120,568 | $358,792 | 45.0% |
| 63 | Morton Grove, IL | 24,910 | $102,940 | $375,363 | 51.0% |
| 64 | Grayslake, IL | 20,801 | $110,662 | $311,008 | 60.0% |
| 65 | Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,744 | $107,428 | $343,446 | 49.0% |
| 66 | Mahomet, IL | 9,545 | $114,083 | $301,578 | 53.0% |
| 67 | Oswego, IL | 34,810 | $112,109 | $366,702 | 43.0% |
| 68 | Pingree Grove, IL | 10,213 | $106,597 | $332,287 | 49.0% |
| 69 | Mount Prospect, IL | 56,191 | $100,526 | $372,693 | 47.0% |
| 70 | Lake Villa, IL | 8,701 | $126,711 | $304,977 | 46.0% |
| 71 | Volo, IL | 6,368 | $128,389 | $321,791 | 43.0% |
| 72 | Shorewood, IL | 18,109 | $119,904 | $361,403 | 39.0% |
| 73 | Palos Heights, IL | 11,965 | $105,366 | $354,730 | 45.0% |
| 74 | West Dundee, IL | 7,845 | $99,653 | $366,743 | 47.0% |
| 75 | Cary, IL | 17,880 | $107,158 | $322,042 | 46.0% |
| 76 | Highwood, IL | 5,227 | $105,282 | $389,661 | 40.0% |
| 77 | Lindenhurst, IL | 14,403 | $124,690 | $300,487 | 43.0% |
| 78 | Columbia, IL | 11,036 | $106,603 | $297,638 | 51.0% |
| 79 | Skokie, IL | 67,076 | $91,892 | $358,422 | 50.0% |
| 80 | Orland Park, IL | 58,345 | $97,365 | $367,054 | 43.0% |
| 81 | Woodridge, IL | 34,027 | $95,756 | $356,860 | 46.0% |
| 82 | Bloomingdale, IL | 22,435 | $96,779 | $375,771 | 43.0% |
| 83 | Yorkville, IL | 21,273 | $105,322 | $357,096 | 40.0% |
| 84 | Lombard, IL | 44,055 | $95,509 | $328,254 | 50.0% |
| 85 | Carol Stream, IL | 39,656 | $103,525 | $330,804 | 43.0% |
| 86 | Lockport, IL | 26,119 | $106,923 | $315,083 | 43.0% |
| 87 | Manhattan, IL | 9,590 | $123,307 | $351,681 | 32.0% |
| 88 | North Aurora, IL | 17,750 | $104,547 | $338,366 | 40.0% |
| 89 | Lake In The Hills, IL | 28,958 | $110,988 | $326,092 | 39.0% |
| 90 | Willowbrook, IL | 9,177 | $95,649 | $294,149 | 55.0% |
| 91 | South Elgin, IL | 23,841 | $118,293 | $318,828 | 37.0% |
| 92 | O’fallon, IL | 32,104 | $102,560 | $284,724 | 51.0% |
| 93 | Minooka, IL | 12,606 | $119,730 | $328,918 | 34.0% |
| 94 | Savoy, IL | 8,682 | $86,605 | $307,692 | 57.0% |
| 95 | Palatine, IL | 67,223 | $93,383 | $312,692 | 48.0% |
| 96 | Mundelein, IL | 31,583 | $99,924 | $321,147 | 43.0% |
| 97 | Westchester, IL | 16,694 | $101,414 | $316,020 | 43.0% |
| 98 | Antioch, IL | 14,714 | $112,546 | $296,327 | 41.0% |
| 99 | Roselle, IL | 22,846 | $104,167 | $331,035 | 39.0% |
| 100 | Crystal Lake, IL | 40,463 | $103,018 | $325,708 | 40.0% |
“We’re probably going to see a lot of Chicago suburbs on this list.” um yeah, you wrote an article about Chicago suburbs…
What a load of anti-intellectual tripe. I’d invite you to visit Glencoe — heck, come over to my house and meet some of my friends and neighbors — to see that either you don’t know what a “snob” is or you’ve grossly overestimated the value of your “proxy” for snobbery.
Yeah not factual at all. Numbers only can say so much, but an article using numbers and statistics to create an opinion article? That’s extremely wrong…go visit these places and interact with the people so that you can back up your statistics. We might be an area of high income, but I’ve seen much worse than the North Shore. Another thing, consider why these areas are like they are. My family moved to Wilmette for the well known education system.
This article should be re-written.
Your well known education wasn’t good enough to read the disclaimer at the top of the article, “This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out.”
What do I know, I graduated from the good old Chicago Public school system? By the way, “My family moved to Wilmette for the well known education system.” certainly qualifies you as a snob. Enjoy it. Embrace it. Like the writer said, most of us are jealous of you. This was a very “tongue and cheek” type article. I wouldn’t take it too seriously. 🙂
You don’t agree? If your town is not in the top 25, visit one that is!
I am from Glencoe and I do NOT appreciate being called the snobbiest town in Illinois, thank you very much. I would also say that nobody else who lives here likes it either. Yes, we are a wealthy town, but there is a fine fine line between snobby and wealthy. Plus, since the houses get more expensive as they get closer to the lake and Glencoe is right on the lake, the houses will obviously be expensive!!!! That comment that you said about the art galleries and theatres, that’s just because we all like performing arts!! You guys are very ignorant and have no place at all in saying that my town is the snobbiest town in Illinois.
“odds are, many attend private schools.” keyword odds are. There aren’t even any private schools here!!!! The only schools here in Glencoe are public schools. You people are way off.
Here’s some snobiness from a resident of the top snobbiest town in Illinois! Wherefore art thou relevance in thou article?
I don’t see how there’s a correlation between private school attendance and “snobbiness”. My parents both worked ridiculously hard to send my sister and I to private school. Hardly snobby, I’d say.
Should be”my sister and ME”!
All of that hard work to educate you, so you can moiyder the king’s English
Absolutely hilarious to observe the outpouring of banter. Take a good look at it … en masse.
” … Methinks thou dost protest too much … ”
Simply. Look within.
Lol no one in the north shore (or most people) go to private school, the public schools are some of the best in the country.
Does someone want to explain to me why Kenilworth isn’t on here? What a terrible article. I’m from Wilmette and some people here live in town homes and apartments. What a disgusting assumption that everyone in these communities are snobby. Such a simple-minded way of thinking.