A northwest suburb of Chicago was deemed the safest and most affordable city in the U.S., according to a new ranking by GoBankingRates. Elgin, which lies mostly within Kane County with a portion in Cook County, was awarded the top spot on the ranking.

Cities were ranked by crime metrics, cost of living, median household income and home values, among other data. The ranking noted Elgin’s low number of property and violent crimes compared to other cities. Additionally, the ranking cited Elgin’s median household income of $85,998, the average monthly mortgage cost of $1,840 and total monthly cost of living of $4,008.

Elgin, founded in 1835, has a population of about 114,800, making it the sixth largest city in Illinois. Known for its historic architecture and landmarks from the Victorian era, many homes in Elgin still have a one-of- a-kind charm.

Now that spring is officially here and flowers are in full bloom, it is time to start thinking about where you can find and purchase local produce and goods. Illinois is known across the country for our agriculture, mainly corn, soybeans and wheat, but this state is also full of oats, fruits, vegetables and meats.

Luckily for Illinoisans, farmers’ markets can be found all across the state. Illinois is home to over 300 registered farmers’ markets and is a national leader in community-supported agriculture. Illinois ranked 3^rd in the country for its number of farmers’ markets. In the past 20 years, the number of farmers’ markets jumped from 1,775 to over 8,000.

If you’re looking for a large city with low crime, one recent ranking claims you can’t do better than Illinois’ fifth-largest city.

Not only was Springfield once the home of Abraham Lincoln, but it is also one of the cheapest cities to live in the United States.

DealCrunch says that affordable housing and utilities make the capital city a great place to live.

According to one study, Naperville is the safest city for women in the United States. A data analysis company compared crime statistics for 285 cities with at least 100,000 residents, and Naperville came out number one.

"We are very pleased and proud of the No. 1 rating. Our community outreach efforts and preventative programs specially designed to ensure women's safety are just some of our keys to success," said Naperville police Chief Robert Marshall in a Daily Herald article.