Illinois vs Pennsylvania: taxes, cost of living, laws

Illinois

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 4 categories

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 11 categories

Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Pennsylvania's 1.43%. Politically, Pennsylvania voted Republican in 2024 (R+2.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).

Illinois

Pennsylvania

Taxes

4.95%

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

1.73%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.43%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.34%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$275K

Median Home Price

$270K

$1,400/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,350/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

413

Violent Crime / 100K

305

1,666

Property Crime / 100K

1,394

269

Sex Offenders / 100K

183

203

Homeless / 100K

108

Healthcare

#20 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#17 of 50

77.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.1 yrs

7.4%

Uninsured Rate

6.5%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#16 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#23 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,650/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$150/mo

$510/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#40 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#37 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+14.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+2.0

Category wins

Illinois

Pennsylvania

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