You moved to the Chicago area alone. Good for you. Now you need somewhere to live that won't make your mom text you a news article every morning. Fair enough. The suburbs around Chicago range from "leave your car unlocked" safe to "there are literally zero violent crimes on record" safe. The trick for single renters is finding one that also has actual apartments, a reasonable commute, and something to do on a Tuesday night that isn't staring at a Culver's parking lot. Here's what the data says for 2026 — verified, no fluff, no sponsored content energy.
The Suburbs That Keep Showing Up on Every Safety List
Let's start with the names that appear on basically every credible ranking, year after year.
Arlington Heights was ranked the #12 safest place to live in the entire U.S. by U.S. News & World Report in 2025, and was also named the Best Place to Live in Illinois. It's a northwest suburb with solid Metra access to downtown, a walkable downtown district, and a real rental market — not just single-family homes pretending apartments don't exist.
Naperville tied for #19 safest in the country on that same U.S. News list and consistently lands in the top three on Niche's rankings for the Chicago metro. One-bedrooms are pricier here, but the infrastructure is there: restaurants, trails, grocery stores that aren't a 15-minute drive away.
Buffalo Grove came in at #18 nationally for safety. It's a north suburb with an extremely low crime rate and strong public transit connections. Rental stock skews toward apartment complexes, which is actually what you want if you're single and not looking to mow a lawn.
Clarendon Hills holds an A+ overall grade from Niche and is ranked the #2 best place to live in the entire state of Illinois. Average one-bedroom rent hovers around $1,700/month. It's quiet — genuinely quiet — and sits right on the BNSF Metra line for a straight shot into Union Station.
These aren't hidden gems. They're the suburbs that keep earning their reputation because the numbers back it up.
What "Safe" Actually Means in the 2026 Data
SafeWise released its 2026 report on Illinois' safest cities, and Campton Hills topped the list for the third consecutive year. The full top five:
Campton Hills
Hawthorn Woods (reported zero violent crimes)
Pingree Grove
Lindenhurst
Western Springs
None of the top ten had more than 0.5 violent incidents per 1,000 residents. That's not a typo. Now, here's the catch for renters: several of these — Campton Hills, Pingree Grove, Lindenhurst — are heavily owner-occupied. Rental inventory is thin. Western Springs and Hawthorn Woods have slightly more options, but you'll likely be looking at smaller complexes or private landlords rather than big managed buildings. If you're a single renter, the SafeWise list is useful for context, but you'll want to cross-reference it with where apartments actually exist.
Best Suburbs That Balance Safety, Rent, and Actually Having a Life
Safety is non-negotiable. But if you're single and renting, you also need a place where the nearest bar isn't a 20-minute Uber and your commute doesn't require two transfers and a prayer.
Evanston — Directly north of the city on the Purple Line. It's a college town (Northwestern), which means the rental market is healthy, there are coffee shops and restaurants everywhere, and the crime rate in most of Evanston's residential areas is low. You'll pay more than some outer suburbs, but you're also getting a real walkable lifestyle.
Oak Park — Just west of the city, accessible via the Green and Blue Lines. Oak Park has a strong renter population, a genuinely interesting downtown, and a well-earned reputation for safety. Frank Lloyd Wright's old neighborhood, if that does anything for you.
Downers Grove — A west suburb on the BNSF Metra line with a solid downtown, good restaurants, and a rental market that caters to young professionals. It was highlighted in a 2026 rental performance guide as one of the best suburbs for renters seeking stability and livability.
Des Plaines — Northwest suburb near O'Hare. Not glamorous, but safe, affordable, and well-connected via Metra and the Blue Line. One-bedrooms can run well under $1,500. It's one of the most affordable suburbs with a real train line, full stop. If you're practical and not trying to impress anyone on a dating app with your zip code, Des Plaines is a strong pick.
Morton Grove — Frequently recommended by actual residents for being affordable, safe, and close to the North Branch Trail and forest preserves. It has a Metra stop and is a quick drive to anything you'd need. It flies under the radar, which is part of the appeal.
What Single Renters Should Actually Look For
Picking a suburb isn't just about crime stats. If you're renting alone, a few things matter more than they would for a couple or a family:
Transit access. If you work in the Loop or near it, a Metra stop or CTA line is the difference between a manageable life and a slow descent into road rage on the Eisenhower. Suburbs like Arlington Heights, Evanston, Oak Park, and Downers Grove all have strong transit connections.
Walkability. Some suburbs are built entirely around cars. That's fine if you have one. But if you want to walk to a grocery store or grab dinner without driving, look for suburbs with actual walkable downtown districts — Naperville, Arlington Heights, Evanston, and Oak Park all qualify.
Rental inventory. A suburb can be the safest place on earth, but if there are only four apartments and they're all two-bedrooms priced for families, it doesn't help you. Check that the suburb has one-bedroom and studio options before you fall in love with the crime stats.
Lease flexibility. Some suburban landlords still think a 12-month minimum is generous. If you're not sure how long you'll stay, look for complexes that offer shorter lease terms or month-to-month options after the initial term.
The Bottom Line for 2026
Illinois' overall violent crime rate is below the national average, which is a sentence that surprises a lot of people who only watch cable news. The suburbs around Chicago, in particular, are consistently among the safest communities in the country. For single renters specifically, the best bets in 2026 are:
Arlington Heights — safest and most well-rounded
Evanston — best lifestyle and transit for a single person
Oak Park — walkable, interesting, strong renter culture
Downers Grove — stable, practical, good Metra access
Des Plaines and Morton Grove — affordable and underrated
You're not going to find a suburb that's perfectly safe, perfectly cheap, and perfectly fun. That suburb does not exist. But plenty of them get close enough that you'll stop doom-scrolling crime maps at 1 a.m. — and that's the actual goal here.
