Illinoisflat 4.95% income tax, 5th highest property tax, median home $275K
D+14 · High tax burden · COL index 92
4.95%
Income Tax
413
Violent Crime / 100K
77.2
Life Expectancy
$275K
Median Home
$1,650
Childcare / Mo
Illinois in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Illinois
Illinois exempts all retirement income from its flat 4.95% income tax: Social Security, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals are untaxed. It offsets that with the second-highest property taxes in the country and an estate tax that starts at $4 million, well below the federal threshold. Chicago and the collar counties hold two-thirds of the population; downstate is a different housing market.
What Illinois taxes, and what it doesn't
Illinois levies a flat 4.95% income tax. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 5.0%, about $3,713 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 5.0%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Illinois has the 16th highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 1.73% of home value a year, roughly $4,758 on the state's median home of $275K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Illinois has the 5th highest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.82%, the 8th highest in the country (the state portion is 6.25%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and an estate tax applies above $4 million.
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Housing and the cost of living in Illinois
Illinois's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average; that is the 17th cheapest of the 50 states.
The median home costs $275K, 9% below the national figure and the 17th lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,400 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $1,900 a year, flood coverage adds about $650 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,650.
Budget $145 a month for electricity and gas, $510 a month in groceries for two, $1,650 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 413 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); Illinois is the 19th most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,666 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 77.2 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 7.4% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Illinois's health system 20th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 16th in the country.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Illinois is a solidly Democratic state that went to Harris by 14 points in 2024.
On guns, concealed-carry permits are shall-issue, a permit is required to buy a handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws A.
Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Illinois is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $14.00 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are tornado, flood, blizzard. Annual average air quality index is 45 (under 50 is good).
Illinois has a major hub airport, with about 200 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Illinois
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$4,758/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Near US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
No statewide STR law; local control (Chicago has own regime).
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Above the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
High homelessness rate; 10% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Illinois
Healthcare#20 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #16 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,650/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$145/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Near US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Near national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel200+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle88% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Highly urban, big city feel
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.1/100K residents: Growing
Craft Distilleries
Strong spirits scene
Live Music
Chicago blues and jazz capital; Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival; deep house origin
Transportation$1,650/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$14/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Legal to viability; strong state protections
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Chicago area has multiple commercial casinos. Sports betting legal since 2020. Rivers Casino in Des Plaines is busy.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Sun Meadow Country Club (Peoria) · Illinois Naturists (Chicago area)
Environment & ClimateAQI 45▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsD+14 · gun law grade A▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
FCCA prohibits carry in alcohol-serving establishments; scope tied to alcohol-sales share; churches may post.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy4.7% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+0.7% job growth · 4.7% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Strong tech presence
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Above-average union presence (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#46 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
High corporate rate. Plan entity structure carefully
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Bottom-10 nationally
9.5% total (7% + 2.5% personal property replacement tax)
Daily Life$3.48/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Above avg (+0.18 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Sparklers (under 36") and novelties only; Chicago bans all
Motorcycle Helmet Law
No helmet requirement (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks84°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 31°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards33/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits68/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
5.8% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
100% disabled: full property tax exempt
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Illinois counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Illinois
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
IL vs NM
Illinois vs New Mexico
COL 92 vs 91 · 4.95% vs 5.9% income tax
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IL vs MN
Illinois vs Minnesota
COL 92 vs 95 · 4.95% vs 9.85% income tax
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IL vs DE
Illinois vs Delaware
COL 92 vs 102 · 4.95% vs 6.6% income tax
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IL vs VA
Illinois vs Virginia
COL 92 vs 102 · 4.95% vs 5.75% income tax
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.