Western Springs was ranked as the nation’s safest and richest city to live in for the second consecutive year by a personal finance website that provides articles and advice on saving, managing and making money.

The listing by GoBankingRates stated it analyzed cities by household mean income across the United States to find the safest and richest cities, using data from the US Census American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index, Federal Reserve Economic Data, AreaVibes and the FBI.

The property crime rate per 1,000 residents, violent crime rate per 1,000 residents, livability score, household mean income, and the average total cost of living were scored for each location and sorted to show the safest and richest cities. All data is up to date, as of Aug. 4, according to GoBankingRates.

Village President Heidi Rudolph said she has heard from quite a few residents who had learned about the top ranking.

“Everyone seems pleased by our ranking, as it is quite a recognition for our small suburb,” she said. “It’s nice to be recognized. We are appreciative of our talented and committed police department that works hard at community policing strategies. Our residents also feel strongly about safety, as was evidenced in the 2024 National Community Survey (www.wsprings.com/803/2024-National-Community-Survey), in which we scored very high for safety of neighborhoods and the downtown.”

Rudolph said Western Springs is a community of neighbors and is pedestrian-friendly.

“People are out and about in our beautiful parks and downtown and in the neighborhoods,” she said. “They keep an eye out for each other, fostering our small-town charm and feel.”

Village manager Ellen J. Baer said while the recognition is appreciated, annual rankings are not a focus for the village.

“We measure our success through direct feedback from residents,” she said, mentioning the same responses to which Rudolph alluded to in the 2024 National Community Survey.

“Also, through annual reporting from the Western Springs Police Department, who work hard every day to keep our community safe,” Baer said. “People who visit our bustling downtown, enjoy our many parks, and reside in this beautiful community, know that Western Springs is a wonderful place to be.”

Being named the safest and richest city to live two years in a row doesn’t create any pressure or challenges to continue the top ranking moving forward, Rudolph said.

“Recognition is not what motivates our officials and staff,” she said. “Our public safety teams, and all of us, work consistently to deliver the highest level of service to our residents. We put pressure on ourselves to deliver excellence, every day, for the benefit of the community.”

Following Western Springs in the top 10 of the 2025 rankings were: Lexington, Massachusetts; Winchester, Massachusetts; Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; Huntington Woods, Michigan; Ottawa Hills, Ohio; Winnetka, Illinois; Kenilworth, Illinois; University Park, Maryland; and Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Libertyville (#16), Hinsdale (#17), Deerfield (#28), Park Ridge (#33), Elmhurst (#34), Wilmette (#35), La Grange (#38), Glen Ellyn (#42) and Naperville (#49) were other Illinois communities among the top 50 in the rankings.

Western Springs data used for the rankings:

• Household mean income: $294,896

• Single family home average value: $837,238

• Total cost of living annually: $84,810

• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.657

• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.076

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/04/western-springs-ranked-safest-richest/