When you think of "safest and richest in the nation," Illinois probably isn't the first place that comes to mind, but it probably should be.

Western Springs has been ranked number one in America for the second consecutive year according to GoBankingRates. The average household income is just under $295,000, crime is minimal, and home values are stable. It's the kind of suburb other suburbs wish they were.

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And Western Springs isn't alone. Illinois just continues to win. Last year, only four cities made the list of America's wealthiest, safest spots. This year, twelve. That's the biggest jump of any state. Winnetka ranked seventh, Kenilworth eighth, and Hinsdale seventeenth.

Need more? Deerfield ranks twenty-eighth and Park Ridge thirty-third, with Elmhurst right behind at thirty-fourth and Wilmette at thirty-fifth. Just a few spots down is La Grange at thirty-eighth, and later on Glen Ellyn at forty-second, and finally Naperville at forty-ninth. These aren't just wealthy suburbs; they're also tied to Chicago's success. Many families relocate there because the schools are excellent, the neighborhoods are safe, and the lifestyle is steady.

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Here's the last big win, especially for anyone who hates on Illinois, while California is losing ground and Florida is nowhere to be found, the Land of Lincoln is quietly climbing. The state with the "bad rep" for high taxes and people moving out is the same state delivering some of the wealthiest, safest communities in the country.

Haters might be surprised, but folks in the know, not so much.