10 Safest Towns In Illinois For Senior Living
Illinois is a smart choice for many retirees because the state doesn’t tax retirement income distributions or social security. The state also offers above-average healthcare facilities and a mix of urban, suburban, and rural options. The state’s property taxes are higher than average in the US, but the overall cost of living remains affordable. Along with access to many outdoor and cultural activities, Illinois is a reasonable option for seniors looking for security and safety within a community. The ten towns described in this article are senior-friendly, beautiful, and have low crime rates.
This article used research from illinois-demographics.com.
Western Springs
Western Springs, Illinois, is a village of 13,290 (2023) that is serious about promoting seniors’ wellness and socialization. Retirees can access the Western Springs Senior Center, which provides educational and social opportunities. Seniors who love being involved in the community will thrive in Western Springs. The center offers an excellent option for meeting new friends and staying active. Take part in game nights, use the on-site movie and book library, and join a local sports group.
Active seniors looking to enjoy the great outdoors for hiking, bird watching, or biking have several options, including Spring Rock Park and the Bemis Woods South Hiking Area. Spring Rock is a typical city park for a daily walk, picnic, or walking your dog. For longer rides or hikes, choose Bemis Woods for a natural experience and longer trail options.
Seniors can get local healthcare at several clinics, including Advocate Health Care and Horizon Adult Medicine.
Hindale
Hindale is a suburban community twenty miles west of Chicago with a population of 17,395 (2020). The town offers residents a small community with all the conveniences of being near a major city. Retirees with a healthy housing budget will find Hindale the perfect retirement location. Hindale is considered a luxury or high-end lifestyle community.
The town is known for having a strong, supportive community with local cultural events, clubs, and healthcare facilities. Hindale hosts several annual events, including the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival, where local artists can display and sell their creative works. The festival draws large crowds. The Hinsdale Farmer’s Market happens weekly from May to October and only allows local farmers and vendors to attend. It’s the perfect place to meet new friends and connect with the community.
Hindale has several city parks, like Burns Field. The park includes tennis, pickleball, basketball courts, a picnic area, and several walking paths. For longer walking or biking trails in Hindale, head to Katherine Legge Memorial Park. When seniors must head to Chicago, Hindale is on the Metra BNSF Railway line for a quick, cost-effective commute.
Hawthorn Woods
Hawthorn Woods is located approximately five miles from Libertyville, as the crow flies. Hawthorn Woods is perfect for retirement for seniors with a healthy retirement budget and a love for the serenity of a small town.
Retirees looking for a wilder experience must visit the Hawthorn Woods Wildlife Sanctuary, which features five acres of open space, or the Indian Creek Nature Preserve, with nearly ten acres of woodland and wetland ecosystems that have remained wild for over a century.
Seniors meet at the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center for exercise classes, recreation, games, and monthly lunches to build community through socialization. Seniors enjoy a unique program designed to build health and wellness throughout life. The town supports annual special events, like Bark in the Park, where owners can walk their dogs and enjoy vendors and contests. Additionally, throughout the summer, from June to August, there are free concerts and movies at Community Park.
Hawthorn Woods has few options for local healthcare, but larger health systems are nearby in Libertyville.
Campton Hills
Campton Hills is a small village perfect for seniors wanting a semi-rural lifestyle. The city is tiny, quiet, and surrounded by farmland. Seniors looking for socialization will find a welcoming senior center in nearby St. Charles at Bickford or Carriage Oaks. Campton Hills is perfect for seniors looking for a small town with an agricultural bend.
Museum lovers enjoy the Garfield Farm and Inn Museum, which documents the long history of the prairie town and its agricultural heritage. Residents have several options for getting out into nature, such as hiking, bird watching, and biking. The Campton Hills Forest Preserve has more than 30 trails, many of which allow dogs and horses.
Local healthcare options do not exist in town but can be found nearby in St. Charles.
Homer Glen
Homer Glen is a suburb of Chicago. The community is focused on creating a community in harmony with nature. The town is surrounded by farms, including several large pumpkin farms that host events and activities during harvest season.
For retirees looking for a semi-rural lifestyle with the conveniences of a big city, Homer Glen is perfect. The community supports the Homer Township Seniors. The Homer Township Seniors meet monthly for shared events and gaming. For senior recreational and exercise, head to the Founder’s Activity Center. For casino gaming, go to Dotty’s Casino right in town.
Seniors looking to hit the trail enjoy the Heroes Trail System, which has several connecting trails throughout the town. The trail begins in Yangas Park and runs through the neighborhoods. It eventually connects to Culver Park, Kingston Hills Park, the Homer Township Senior Activity Center, and the Homer Glen Village Hall.
Homer Glen is home to two local healthcare centers: The Silver Cross and Victorian Village Health & Wellness.
Hampshire
Hampshire is another town to consider for retirees looking for above average safety ratings, a rural lifestyle with access to nature and still less than an hour's drive from the amenities of Chicago.
Hampshire has an active senior group called Hampshire’s Seniors on the Go. The group meets throughout the month for gaming, socialization, and meals. There are also daily exercise classes to keep you fit.
Seniors who like to walk or bike will enjoy the many local trails, most of which are less than five miles. Birdwatchers will also enjoy the abundance of natural habitats on the trails, including Muirhead Springs Loop, Songbird Loop Trail, and Sandhill Crane Trail.
The Hampshire community sponsor several annual festivals in the summer with the highlight being the Coon Creek Country Days. Enjoy live music from local artists and local food vendors. Every day includes a local arts and crafts fair and activities for kids Coon Creek Country Days helps to build community and local business.
Retirees will find local healthcare options and a crime rating far less than the national average.
Pingree Grove
Pingree Grove is a Kane County village of 10,365 (2020 Census) in Northern Illinois and is considered a suburb of Chicago. The difference is that Pingree Grove is chock full of forest, including the Pingree Grove Forest Preserve, which has 300+ acres of wetlands and trails for walking, birdwatching, or biking. Seniors wanting to enjoy the natural forest will love Pingree Grove.
Farms surround the town, many of which have farm stands or programs where seniors can rent an animal or pick their own crops. Get outside and get some exercise while you shop in the fields. Check out Goebbert’s Farm and Pioneer Farm.
Fishing and camping are popular activities in Pingree Grove. Perfect for retirees living in RVs or those looking to escape the city or typical suburbs. Find the best spots to hike, fish, or camp in town, including Lake in the Hills Fen Park, The Hollows Conservation Area, or the Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve.
Pingree Grove doesn’t have a senior center or local healthcare options. Pingree Grove is an hour’s drive from Chicago but closer to facilities in St. Charles. The crime rating is much lower than the national average at 0.5 for violent crime and 1.7 for property crime.
Brookfield
Brookfield is a village within Chicago's metro. The town provides retirees looking for a safer, small-town community the perfect place to call home.
Get outdoors and bike, walk, or hike through the Brookfield Woods that connect to the larger Salt Creek Trail System. All trails are unpaved and run along the Des Planes River and Salt Creek. The trails will eventually lead users to the Brookfield Zoo. Yes, Brookfield is home to the Brookfield Zoo, with 235 acres of open concept zoos and home to a variety of species. Seniors can volunteer or take part in various zoo programs. Optionally, retirees can take a hike or do some bird watching along the Salt Creek Trail.
Seniors looking for community groups or recreation will find both at the Brookfield Library. Check out the library offerings and participate in a variety of senior programs that include various classes in art, exercise, or monthly meals.
Leland Grove
Many retirees may consider making Leland Grove their retirement home. Leland Grove (population 1,413) is a small suburb of Springfield, Illinois. Leland Grove is super small but offers quiet living at a slow pace for seniors.
Some describe it as the kind of place you go if you’re in witness protection. Seniors will find healthcare services, senior programs, and plenty of hiking trails nearby, with a ten-minute drive to Springfield. Walk through the Washington Park Botanical Garden and catch lunch in Springfield and then make your way home to the super quiet town of Leland Grove. Retirees looking to get away from it all without being too far from conveniences will find Leland Grove a fantastic retirement home.
Seniors can catch a movie, bowl in a league, or just have fun at the local bowling lanes. Take in an Opera at the Sandwich Opera House. The town is small and quiet and designed to remain that way.
LaSalle
LaSalle is the namesake of its county, and a 94 miles commute from Chicago.
Retirees looking for a quiet, small-town atmosphere fit well in LaSalle. Dog lovers appreciate the local LaSalle Rotary Park, which has two dog runs. Walk your dog(s) and catch a local baseball game at the park. There’s also a long hiking and biking trail called the Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail.
Golfers will love the Senica Oak Ridge Golf Club. Book lovers have an outlet in the LaSalle Public Library. There’s also the LaSalle Speedway for local car racing. The city is home to several historic home sites and museums, including the Hegelar Carus Mansion, or you can take a ride on the I&M Canal using a manual canal boat.
Seniors won’t find any senior recreation or programs in LaSalle, but interested seniors can take a short drive to Peru, IL and use the Bridges Community Center. Find exercise classes, sports teams, community events, and support information for seniors and caregivers.
Illinois provides seniors looking for safe, suburban and rural retirement options a number of solid choices. Retire in a quiet neighborhood or even a remote rural town without ever being more than an hour away from big city amentities. Consider Illinois when looking for safe retirement choices.
