Illinois vs Tennessee: taxes, cost of living, laws

Illinois

High tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 8 categories

Tennessee

Low tax burden · COL index 92

Wins 6 categories

Tennessee has no state income tax. Illinois's top rate is 4.95%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Tennessee's 0.45%. The median home in Tennessee costs $350K vs $275K in Illinois. Politically, Tennessee voted Republican in 2024 (R+24.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).

Illinois

Tennessee

Taxes

4.95%

Income Tax (top rate)

None

1.73%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.45%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

9.55%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

None

Housing & Cost of Living

COL Index (100=avg)

$275K

Median Home Price

$350K

$1,400/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,400/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

413

Violent Crime / 100K

668

1,666

Property Crime / 100K

2,752

269

Sex Offenders / 100K

389

203

Homeless / 100K

115

Healthcare

#20 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#39 of 50

77.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

74.2 yrs

7.4%

Uninsured Rate

10.4%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Education

#16 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#41 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,650/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,000/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$130/mo

$510/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$420/mo

#40 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#10 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+14.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+24.0

Category wins

Illinois

Tennessee

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