Barrington, IL, United States

The reality is, living in Barrington, IL is a trade-off. On one hand, the area is part of the reliably Democratic 9th congressional district that has been in Democratic hands since 1949. But on the other, bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the district's boundaries divided across multiple counties and municipalities. And while the town is home to just 5,100 residents, the broader 9th district covers a sprawling area including parts of Chicago's North Side and many of its northern suburbs. So whether Barrington is the right fit depends on your political leanings and tolerance for navigating red tape.