You might be surprised by how many safe and wealthy cities are based in the Midwest. Key findings from a recent in-house study conducted by GOBankingRates indicate 33 Midwestern cities rank among the nation’s safest and richest.
For You: GOBankingRates Original Research Center
Discover Next: 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value
After identifying the 1,000 U.S. cities with the highest household mean incomes, this list was gradually whittled down with key considerations including average home values, the annual cost of living and property and violent crime rates.
See which 33 Midwest cities made the cut — and learn more about the safest and richest U.S. cities overall.
1. Western Springs, Illinois
- Average household income: $294,896
- Average home 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
See More: Key Signs Your Credit Card Is Quietly Wrecking Your Finances
Explore Next: I Paid Off $40,000 in 7 Months Doing These 5 Things
2. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
- Average household income: $208,063
- Average home value: $646,546
- Total cost of living annually: $69,458
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.396
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.275
Find Out: Dave Ramsey Says This is the Best Way to Pay Off Debt
3. Huntington Woods, Michigan
- Average household income: $225,070
- Average home value: $530,900
- Total cost of living annually: $62,174
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.207
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.321
4. Ottawa Hills, Ohio
- Average household income: $259,011
- Average home value: $435,312
- Total cost of living annually: $52,730
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.468
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.417
5. Winnetka, Illinois
- Average household income: $457,404
- Average home value: $1,803,555
- Total cost of living annually: $153,532
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.144
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.164
Read More: Here’s Why You Need to Monitor Both Your Credit Score and Your Credit Report, According to an Expert
6. Kenilworth, Illinois
- Average household income: $460,411
- Average home value: $1,945,017
- Total cost of living annually: $163,712
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.189
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
7. Upper Arlington, Ohio
- Average household income: $208,451
- Average home value: $687,463
- Total cost of living annually: $71,587
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.203
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.140
8. Hudson, Ohio
- Average household income: $216,934
- Average home value: $556,085
- Total cost of living annually: $61,805
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.335
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.525
See Next: Here’s How to Build an Emergency Fund Without Blowing Your Budget
9. Madeira, Ohio
- Average household income: $246,617
- Average home value: $535,451
- Total cost of living annually: $61,439
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.160
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.213
10. Libertyville, Illinois
- Average household income: $214,676
- Average home value: $647,306
- Total cost of living annually: $69,234
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.397
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.394
11. Hinsdale, Illinois
- Average household income: $376,366
- Average home value: $1,259,123
- Total cost of living annually: $114,926
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.554
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.117
That’s Interesting: Here’s Why You Always Want to Know Your Net Worth, According to a Financial Expert
12. Birmingham, Michigan
- Average household income: $240,711
- Average home value: $822,581
- Total cost of living annually: $82,101
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.947
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.369
13. Wyoming, Ohio
- Average household income: $203,661
- Average home value: $509,376
- Total cost of living annually: $58,841
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.066
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.232
14. Deerfield, Illinois
- Average household income: $246,543
- Average home value: $712,853
- Total cost of living annually: $74,156
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.040
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.318
Find Out: Fidelity Says This Is a Surprising Risk of Holding Too Much Cash — Do You Have Too Much?
15. Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
- Average household income: $197,870
- Average home value: $482,215
- Total cost of living annually: $58,386
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.058
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.335
16. Park Ridge, Illinois
- Average household income: $187,830
- Average home value: $610,055
- Total cost of living annually: $68,801
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.175
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.664
17. Elmhurst, Illinois
- Average household income: $200,730
- Average home value: $631,934
- Total cost of living annually: $70,240
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.168
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.400
View More: 3 Signs You’ve ‘Made It’ Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley
18. Wilmette, Illinois
- Average household income: $291,930
- Average home value: $1,005,748
- Total cost of living annually: $96,945
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 11.651
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.335
19. La Grange, Illinois
- Average household income: $210,646
- Average home value: $705,658
- Total cost of living annually: $75,553
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.616
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.603
20. Glen Ellyn, Illinois
- Average household income: $190,562
- Average home value: $605,296
- Total cost of living annually: $68,523
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.043
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.462
Check Out: I’m a Financial Advisor: My Wealthiest Clients All Do These 3 Things
21. Beverly Hills, Michigan
- Average household income: $202,450
- Average home value: $563,075
- Total cost of living annually: $64,401
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.918
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.964
22. Fox Point, Wisconsin
- Average household income: $239,298
- Average home value: $556,377
- Total cost of living annually: $63,474
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.340
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.306
23. Naperville, Illinois
- Average household income: $192,516
- Average home value: $645,120
- Total cost of living annually: $71,529
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.582
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.639
Read More: If You’re Thinking About Getting a CD, Suze Orman Says You Should Do It Now — Here’s Why
24. River Forest, Illinois
- Average household income: $245,054
- Average home value: $862,703
- Total cost of living annually: $86,891
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 14.343
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.807
25. East Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Average household income: $222,936
- Average home value: $663,931
- Total cost of living annually: $69,633
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 14.728
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.052
26. Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
- Average household income: $222,034
- Average home value: $508,125
- Total cost of living annually: $62,577
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 13.298
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.711
View More: 30 Scam Phone Numbers To Block and Area Codes To Avoid
27. Clayton, Missouri
- Average household income: $216,884
- Average home value: $1,124,202
- Total cost of living annually: $102,352
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.691
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.764
28. Montgomery, Ohio
- Average household income: $208,199
- Average home value: $688,106
- Total cost of living annually: $72,035
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.265
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.279
29. Kohler, Wisconsin
- Average household income: $195,676
- Average home value: $440,364
- Total cost of living annually: $53,268
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 30.014
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
Explore Next: Vivian Tu Offers The Simple Money Rule That Can Keep You Out of Debt
30. Bexley, Ohio
- Average household income: $223,321
- Average home value: $583,477
- Total cost of living annually: $64,097
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 28.604
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 2.337
31. Northbrook, Illinois
- Average household income: $218,418
- Average home value: $789,892
- Total cost of living annually: $81,457
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 11.387
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.297
32. Grosse Pointe, Michigan
- Average household income: $197,528
- Average home value: $511,293
- Total cost of living annually: $62,624
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 20.000
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.636
For You: 4 Moves To Make if You Can’t Pay All Your Bills this Month
33. Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin
- Average household income: $227,875
- Average home value: $1,175,698
- Total cost of living annually: $105,781
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 26.389
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 4.167
Check out more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: Using the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the 1,000 cities with the highest average household income were identified. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for May 2025. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the national average expenditure costs for all households were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey; the average expenditure costs then were calculated for each location. Using data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the property crime rate per 1,000 residents and the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents were both calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and any location with a livability index below 80 was removed for this study as it represents a location with a lower quality of life. Using the average mortgage (calculated from Federal Reserve data) and expenditure costs, the cost of living was calculated for each location. The total average cost of living was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate per 1,000 was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average household income was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the safest and richest cities. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 4, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 33 Safest and Richest Midwest Cities To Live in 2025
