When we think of Illinois' Most Underrated Town, it usually comes with a hyphen.

That's because when you mention LaSalle, Peru usually comes right after.

I get it, Peru is right next door to LaSalle and they also share a school district, but after this recent survey came out, it might be time to start thinking about LaSalle as its own entity.

Cheapism says LaSalle is Illinois' Most Underrated Town:

With history dating to the Native American Mud Builders who dominated the area until the 1600s, La Salle was one of the towns that sprung up when the dream of linking the Illinois Valley to Chicago by canal became a reality. Today, it's one of the best places to live in the state, thanks to its farmers market and dozens of restaurants and bars awaiting a full return to public life — not to mention a five-digit median home value.

Just an hour south of Rockford, and really close to the legendary Rip's Tavern in Ladd, if you're thinking of a change of scenery while still living in Illinois, LaSalle might be your spot.

Median home prices in LaSalle are $110,000. They're actually down nearly 3% since last year according to Home Light.

As far as the crime rate is concerned, Neighborhood Scout says "LaSalle has an overall crime rate of 12 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in LaSalle is 1 in 82."

So the houses are cheap, and the crime rate is average in LaSalle. It actually sounds like a decent place to live.

Have you been to LaSalle? What do you think? Is it really the most underrated town in Illinois?

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
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