Illinois may be called the prairie state but with its abundance of charming residential communities located near Chicago, the nickname of the state should really be changed. Thousands of Americans relocate to Illinois in an effort to be near Chicago and who can really blame them? After all, the Windy City is one of the few truly international American cities. With a vibrant local arts scene and international businesses with their headquarters located in Chicago, who wouldn't want to live in Chicago?

The answer may surprise you, as quiet a lot of people would prefer to not live in Chicago. Not to take anything away from the Windy City, but Chicago is a big city and a large amount of people don't want to live in a major urban center. For these people, the village of Winfield would be the ideal place to move to.

The village of Winfield is everything that Chicago isn't. While it lacks the world class attractions and frenzied activity of Chicago, Winfield offers a low cost of living. Additionally, Winfield provides an abundance of affordable housing, a relaxed pace of life, and a place where neighbors know each other's names.

Home to 8,718 residents at the time of the 2000 census, Winfield also has the advantage of being near Chicago. Part of the Chicago metropolitan area known as Chicagoland, Winfield is just a little over 30 miles away from Chicago.