Illinois
Among the top 24% of US states for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 6% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 71% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 35% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 76% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 35% of US states
- top 16% for airport distance
- top 18% for walkability
- bottom 2% for property tax rate
Illinois is a U.S. state with about 12,758,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and F for affordability. Standout strengths include airport distance, walkability, and school quality. It rates lower on monthly owner costs and property tax rate.
Official websiteillinois.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Illinois is $250k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Illinois is $81k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Illinois is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Illinois has a violent crime rate of 1336/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Illinois is 28 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$81k69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$54kbetter than 38% of US states
Home Value$250k47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 43% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$546kbetter than 4% of US states
Property Tax Rate2.14%better than 2% of US states
Income Tax5.01%better than 54% of US states
Sales Tax8.86%better than 12% of US states
Estimated total tax burden14.47%better than 24% of US states
Unemployment5.9%better than 24% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)26°F25th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F49th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation40.2 in39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall30.9 inbetter than 41% of US states
Sunny Days238 daysbetter than 63% of US states
Summer Humidity64°Fbetter than 49% of US states
Comfortable Days87 daysbetter than 64% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk90.3better than 25% of US states
Air Quality53 AQIbetter than 6% of US states
School Quality83.7better than 82% of US states
Violent Crime1336/100kbetter than 40% of US states
Property Crime1393/100kbetter than 68% of US states
Community
Population12,757,63490th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.741st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5067th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9843rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1922nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)59.6%31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)13.7%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)17.8%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)5.7%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.2%6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time28 minbetter than 16% of US states
Walkability10.6/20better than 82% of US states
Airport Distance37 mibetter than 84% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.3%better than 55% of US states
Amenities Nearby3.35better than 49% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 37% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Illinois an affordable place to live?
- Illinois is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $54k, better than 38% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Illinois safe?
- Illinois is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1336/100k (better than 40%). Property crime is 1393/100k.
- What is the weather like in Illinois?
- Illinois averages 75°F in July and 26°F in January, with 40.2 in of annual precipitation and about 238 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Illinois?
- Public-school quality in Illinois is above average, scoring better than 82% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Illinois?
- The average one-way commute in Illinois is 28 min.