Illinois
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
State Profile
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Get notified when Illinois tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Taxes
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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
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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
Crime & Safety
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Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
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State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
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K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
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Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
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Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
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Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle
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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
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Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
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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 & Climate
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Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
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2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
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Job Market
+0.7% job growth · 4.7% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Strong tech presence
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Business Climate
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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
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Gas Price (Regular)
Above avg (+0.18 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Sparklers (under 36") and novelties only; Chicago bans all
Weather & Natural Risks
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Winter Severity
Avg January high: 31°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
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Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
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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
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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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Trending in Illinois
The State of Illinois Newsroom - The State of Illinois Newsroom
The State of Illinois Newsroom · Jun 5
Gov. JB Pritzker suspends tax breaks for data centers, urges more discussion - Capitol News Illinois
Capitol News Illinois · Jun 5
Illinois governor's race: Independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett faces ballot challenge from Darren Bailey campaign - ABC7 Chicago
ABC7 Chicago · Jun 4
Illinois Seeks Two Crest Hill Prisons, Leaving Lincoln Out of Logan Correctional Center Rebuild Plan - WTTW News
WTTW News · Jun 8
Republican to offer Bears stadium bill, new property tax initiatives - The Center Square
The Center Square · Jun 8
What Residents Say
Has anyone moved out of Illinois due to the rising costs? ...
I've lived in Illinois for the last 15 years and have enjoyed it for the most part, but the outrageous price increases we're seeing on EVERYTHING since ......
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People who moved from Illinois to Indiana - did you save ...
The biggest savings you will get from moving to Indiana is property taxes. Property taxes in Indiana are as little as 1/2 to 1/3 of what you ......
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Moving to Illinois pros and cons
I live in Central Illinois, and taxes are downright reasonable for what we get here. The comparison between C-U and, say, Libertyville is pretty ......
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Wanting to move to Chicago but concerned with Illinois ...
So even with Illinois state tax, you'd still earn $12K–$18K more per year in Chicago. That's a $6–$8/hour raise after taxes. You're definitely ......
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Thinking of moving from TX : r/illinois
Illinois is ranked 8th overall by highest tax burdens. Texas is much lower ranking at 37. Many smaller insurance carriers have pulled out of ......
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Moving to Illinois? : r/movingtoillinois
Hello, I’m new to this subreddit and considering a move due to limited job opportunities in Utah. Could some residents help me with a few questions? ......
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Looking into moving to Illinois, how do you feel about the ...
I generally hold Illinois with a high regard and am thinking of moving due to more liberal politics, do you guys feel like it is a material difference ......
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How far does $98k go where you live? : r/illinois
Hey! I read that you need to make about $98k to live “comfortably” in Illinois. Since Illinois is so big with multiple market areas (each with a different ......
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Ever consider leaving IL? Which state would you go to?
Have you ever considered moving from Illinois? What are the top 2 states you’ve considered relocating to and why? Weather, lower cost of living, ......
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Should I move from Illinois to Wisconsin for a better quality ...
Pay for teachers is generally better in Illinois but cost of living is slightly more. We live in Milwaukee so I don't think the differences ......
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Stay Current
Get notified when Illinois tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.