If you're going to have a list of the best, you only need to remove a few layers to find the worst.

WalletHub listed small Illinois towns like Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, and Highland Park as the top three for the state.

WHY IS GLEN ELLYN THE BEST SMALL TOWN IN ILLINOIS?

Glen Ellyn scored an overall 67.07, ranking 74th in affordability and 57th in safety. Those two metrics are why the tiny town ranked in the 97th percentile. Yes, the bigger the number, the "better" the town is, well, according to the study.

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If you dig a bit deeper, you'll find what the study reveals as the worst small towns in the state.

Keep Reading: Two of America's 'Large' Nuclear Targets Are In Illinois

While the numbers might bear out that these are, in fact, the lowest rated and may statistically be the worst, I can't say so for sure, considering I haven't been to some of them.

THE WORST SMALL TOWNS IN ILLINOIS

These places might be better than the "worst" label they receive today.

East St. Louis is the worst small town in Illinois, ranking in the bottom one percent with low scores for affordability, economic health, education, quality of life, and safety.

The numbers are so low for these ten cities that Calumet City, the 10th-ranked town overall, only ranks in the 14th percentile. See the entire list below.

Study Names The Ten Worst Small Towns in Illinois

Best counties to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Illinois.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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