“Top 25 Best Suburbs in the U.S. for Relocation” - moveBuddha.com
Resident Demographics
Total Population: 54,583
Total Households: 23,267
Population Density: 11,472.5 per square mile (6th-highest in Illinois)
Median Household Income: $108,026
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 72.5% of residents (25+ years of age)
Rooted in Tradition, Progressing Toward the Future
The Village of Oak Park blends a rich history with exciting new development and investment. A short train ride from the Chicago Loop, Oak Park boasts the historic homes of literary giants Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Rice Burroughs, as well as that of Dr. Percy L. Julian who overcame racial barriers to become one of the nation’s foremost researchers and developers of pharmaceuticals. But Oak Park’s most famous residence may be that of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose home and studio welcomes 150,000 visitors annually. In fact, over 20 of the famed architect’s projects remain within the Village, many of which are accessible via guided tours.
The Head of its Class
Exceptional quality of life that makes Oak Park one of the best places in the country to reside, especially when it comes to education. In 2025, the Illinois State Board of Education named two Oak Park schools (Ascension Catholic School and St. Giles School) among the State’s 28 “Blue Ribbon” designees. In addition, U.S. News & World Report named Oak Park and River Forest High School one of the State’s Top 40 public high schools, while Fenwick High School was ranked as one of the Top 5 Catholic high schools in Illinois by Niche.
A Wealth of Amenities
Further exemplifying the community’s commitment to quality of life, the Park District of Oak Park offers 18 public parks, covering 84 acres and including seven neighborhood recreation centers. The Park District was also awarded the 2025 Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), making it one of only seven recipients across the entire country to receive that organization’s premier accolade. The Oak Park Public Library is a multiple-time five-star designee from Library Journal, that publication’s highest honor and reserved for only the top 1% of libraries in the nation.
A Home for Everyone
Most importantly, Oak Park prides itself on being a welcoming community, with values committed to ensuring that residents and visitors from all different backgrounds have a place here. The Village Board’s vision statement for the community emphasizes a “strong sense of responsibility to embrace our historic past and support our thriving present as a diverse, welcoming, inclusive and integrated community.”
The "Wright" Place for You and Your Family
With such an incredible wealth of amenities, educational opportunities, diversity and a thriving business community, it’s no wonder that moveBuddha.com ranked Oak Park as one of the country’s “25 suburbs everyone wants to move to in 2025” and the only community in Illinois to make the list.
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