Is Port Byron the best place to live in the Illinois Quad Cities?

Maybe, according to a new survey of the best counties in Illinois. It shows that none of the Quad Cities ones make the top 20.

Stacker recently compiled a list of the top counties to raise a family in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. The top six are in the Chicago area, including DuPage at No. 1 and Cook County (home to 5.2 million) No. 6.

Tuggers competed Aug. 12, 2023 during the annual Tugfest between Port Byron and LeClaire over the Mississippi River. (photo by Eric Olsen)

The QC area counties to make the cut (with details on income, housing and schools) are:

No. 22 — Rock Island County:

  • Population: 144,694
  • Median home value: $125,200 (68% own)
  • Median rent: $785 (32% own)
  • Median household income: $58,974
  • Top public schools: Hampton Elementary School (grade A minus), Taylor Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Illinois City Elementary School (grade A minus)
  • Top private schools: Alleman High School (grade A minus), Quad Cities Christian Jr. and Sr. High School (grade B+), East Moline Christian School (grade B+)
  • Top places to live: Port Byron (grade A minus), Moline (grade B+), Hampton (grade B+)
Geneseo beats Alleman 2-0 in volleyball on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 (OurQuadCities.com).

No. 24 — Henry County:

  • Population: 49,412
  • Median home value: $125,500 (80% own)
  • Median rent: $760 (20% own)
  • Median household income: $62,097
  • Top public schools: Orion Middle School (grade A minus), Geneseo High School (grade B+), C.R. Hanna Elementary School (grade B+)
  • Top private schools: St. Malachy’s Catholic School (grade unavailable), Visitation Catholic School (grade unavailable)
  • Top places to live: Geneseo (grade A minus), Colona (grade B), Kewanee (grade B minus)

No. 26 — Whiteside County:

  • Population: 55,932
  • Median home value: $109,600 (74% own)
  • Median rent: $746 (26% own)
  • Median household income: $59,812
  • Top public schools: Erie Elementary School (grade A minus), Erie Middle School (grade A minus), Sterling High School (grade A minus)
  • Top private schools: Newman Central Catholic High School (grade B), Unity Christian High School (grade B), St. Mary’s School (grade unavailable)
  • Top places to live: Fulton (grade B+), Sterling (grade B+), Morrison (grade B)
Downtown Clarendon Hills in DuPage County, outside Chicago.

The lowdown on DuPage County:

  • Population: 934,094
  • Median home value: $324,900 (73% own)
  • Median rent: $1,433 (27% own)
  • Median household income: $100,292
  • Top public schools: Hinsdale Central High School (grade A+), Metea Valley High School (grade A+), Glenbard West High School (grade A+)
  • Top private schools: Benet Academy (grade A+), St. Francis High School (grade A+), Naperville Christian Academy (grade A+)
  • Top places to live: Clarendon Hills (grade A+), Naperville (grade A+), Hinsdale (grade A+)