New ranking names three Chicago suburbs among America’s 50 richest areas

Three suburbs make the list

A new wealth ranking puts three Chicago suburbs among America’s 50 richest areas, giving Illinois a clear place on a list led by high-income communities across the U.S.

MoneyLion ranked Hinsdale, Lake Forest, and Wilmette using 2024 income data and April 2026 home values for cities with at least 5,000 households in qualifying metro suburbs.

How the ranking was built

MoneyLion reviewed U.S. Census 2024 American Community Survey data, then focused on suburbs that met its household-size rules and belonged to larger metro areas, not principal cities themselves.

The company ranked places by average household income, then used Zillow home value data from April 2026 to show housing context for each community on the list.

Hinsdale leads Illinois

Hinsdale placed no. 11, making it the highest-ranked Illinois suburb in MoneyLion’s list and the closest local community to the national top 10 among qualifying suburbs this year.

The village posted a 2024 average household income of $367,874, placing it among suburbs where earnings far exceed typical household levels across much of the country.

Home values stand out in Hinsdale

MoneyLion listed Hinsdale’s April 2026 Zillow home value figure at $1,330,983, adding housing context to its no. 11 ranking by average household income.

That number also reflects the high-cost market around established Chicago-area communities, where historic homes, commuter access, and village centers can be part of local buyer appeal.

Lake Forest takes the next spot

Lake Forest ranked no. 35, giving the North Shore another place on the national list and extending Illinois’ showing beyond the western suburbs in the 2026 ranking.

MoneyLion reported Lake Forest’s 2024 average household income at $303,251, with an April 2026 Zillow home value figure of $1,253,534 in its analysis for the list.

Why Lake Forest stands apart

Lake Forest has long been known for large homes, lakefront scenery, and quiet residential streets north of Chicago, which can shape local housing prices and buyer interest.

Its placement shows that wealth in the Chicago area is not limited to one corridor, with high-income communities appearing across different suburban pockets around the region over time.

Wilmette follows close behind

Wilmette came in at no. 36, just one place behind Lake Forest, giving the Chicago area back-to-back entries in the national ranking for Illinois readers this year.

MoneyLion listed Wilmette’s 2024 average household income at $300,005 and its April 2026 Zillow home value figure at $1,073,688, keeping it firmly among the top 50.

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A close race on the North Shore

Lake Forest and Wilmette landed side by side, but their numbers show slightly different pictures of income strength, housing demand, and local price pressure across the North Shore.

Lake Forest had the higher home value and income figure, while Wilmette still crossed the $300,000 income mark and topped $1 million in average home value.

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Illinois misses the top 10

No Illinois suburb reached the national top 10, even though Hinsdale came close enough to lead the state’s representation at no. 11 in the MoneyLion ranking.

The top spots went to places including Scarsdale, New York, West University Place, Texas, Rye, New York, Los Altos, California, and Paradise Valley, Arizona, among others, in the 2026 list.

The top tier shows a pattern

Many suburbs near the top sit close to major job centers, finance hubs, technology markets, or expensive housing areas with long-standing demand and limited housing supply.

That pattern helps explain why communities near New York, Houston, San Jose, Phoenix, Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington appear among the highest-ranked places in the country in the 2026 list.

What average income can hide

Average household income can make a community look especially wealthy because very high earners can lift the number above what many residents actually make in a given year.

That means the ranking is useful for comparison, but it does not tell the full story about budgets, renters, retirees, younger families, or daily household costs alone.

Housing remains part of the story

The Illinois entries all showed April 2026 Zillow home value figures above $1 million, linking the ranking to some of the region’s most expensive residential markets near Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

For buyers, that level can mean larger down payments, higher property costs, and tighter choices, even when a suburb offers strong schools or easy access nearby for commuters.

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What the ranking means

For Chicago-area readers, the list highlights how three familiar suburbs stack up against some of the country’s highest-income communities in a fresh 2026 ranking from MoneyLion.

Hinsdale, Lake Forest, and Wilmette did not reach the top 10, but their placement shows how much wealth remains concentrated around older suburban markets near Chicago and nearby areas.

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What do you think makes these Chicago suburbs stand out among America’s richest areas? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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