Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 1 categories
Iowa
Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
Wins 14 categories
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% vs Iowa's 3.8%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Iowa's 1.42%. Politically, Iowa voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
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Utilities & Daily Costs
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Category wins
1
Illinois
14
Iowa
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Is it better to live in Iowa or Illinois?
What are the main reasons people leave Iowa?
Are taxes higher in Illinois or Iowa?
Illinoisans average $13.1K in taxes, highest burden in U.S. A move to Iowa, the neighboring state with the next-highest combined state and local tax rate, would save an Illinois family $2,715 on that $79,004 U.S. median household income.
Is Iowa or Illinois cheaper?