THE MOST BORING PLACES IN ILLINOIS

LEAH ANSEL
AUG 29, 2014

Between fun tourist attractions and political corruption, Illinois is an interesting place to be. That’s why real estate blog site Movoto.com took a deeper look at what the Land of Lincoln had to offer in terms of excitement, and the opposite. Yep, the people at Movoto made a list of the top 10 most boring places in Illinois. And in turns out, they’re in the suburbs. Movoto made the list by ranking the 100 most populous cities in Illinois, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, on the following criteria:

• Least nightlife and live music venues per capita
• Least active life options per capita
• Most fast food venues per capita
• Lowest percentage of non-fast food restaurants
• Lowest percentage of residents ages 18 to 34

Please note these are the same 100 places used to rank the most exciting places in Illinois.

10) Streamwood Population 40,000. Here is how Streamwood ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 84th
• Music venues per capita: 43rd
• Active life options: 84th
• Fast food venues: 53rd
• Non-fast food options: 92nd
• Youth population: 39th

9) Vernon Hills Population 26,000. Here is how Vernon Hills ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 46th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 25th
• Fast food venues: 99th
• Non-fast food options: 92nd
• Youth population: 85th

8) Oswego Population 32,000. Here is how Oswego ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 64th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 33rd
• Fast food venues: 86th
• Non-fast food options: 88th
• Youth population: 77th

6) Hanover Park (tie) Population 39,000. Here is how Hanover Park ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 94th
• Music venues per capita: 39th
• Active life options: 92nd
• Fast food venues: 63rd
• Non-fast food options: 100th
• Youth population: 19th

6) Bolingbrook (tie) Population 74,000. Here is how Bolingbrook ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 88th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 86th
• Fast food venues: 52nd
• Non-fast food options: 65th
• Youth population: 60th

5) Huntley Population 25,000. Here is how Huntley ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 96th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 46th
• Fast food venues: 36th
• Non-fast food options: 81st
• Youth population: 97th

4) Lake in the Hills Population 29,000. Here’s how Lake in the Hills ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 100th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 95th
• Fast food venues: 3rd
• Non-fast food options: 96th
• Youth population: 72nd

3) Calumet City Population 37,000. Here’s how Calumet City ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 97th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 93rd
• Fast food venues: 58th
• Non-fast food options: 56th
• Youth population: 63rd

Fun fact: Calumet City used to be the vice capital of Illinois. During Prohibition, Calumet City was home to bootleggers, illegal nightclubs and gambling.

2) Rolling Meadows Population 25,000. Here’s how Rolling Meadows ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 85th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 94th
• Fast food venues: 72nd
• Non-fast food options: 84th
• Youth population: 43rd

1) New Lenox Population 25,000. Here’s how New Lenox ranks in each category:

• Nightlife: 86th
• Music venues per capita: 56th
• Active life options: 30th
• Fast food venues: 95th
• Non-fast food options: 98th
• Youth population: 83rd

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