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Moving. Simplified.
If you love big cities, enjoy spending time outdoors, enthusiastic about sports, concerts, attractive towns, moving to Illinois could be a great idea.
Illinois is third largest city in the U.S., Chicago - famous for its breathtaking skyline, midwestern charm, commerce, and iconic architecture.
If you're wondering if moving to Illinois is right for you, we created this guide to help you review all the right information you need about the state before making up your mind about moving or not.
A quick look at the population and other demographics of Illinois.
Illinois has a population of 12,812,508 and it is the 6th most populated state in the US. The density of the state is 232/sq mi. Illinois stands 12th in density. Chicago, the largest city in Illinois is also the third most populated city in the country.
Illinois has a continental climate with cold winter and warm summer and frequent fluctuations in temperature. The annual temperature ranges between 48°F and 58°F in summer while the winter temperature goes down to mid -the 40s. Illinois averages 10 days at or above 90°F in the north while it happens for 40 days in the south. It snows heavily in winter and the heaviest is in the Chicago area. Tornadoes and thunderstorms are also frequent in the state.
On average an Illinois resident spends 29 minutes to commute to the office, which is the 7th longest in the US. And if you are moving to Chicago, you may take 34.4 minutes to reach the office, which is 31% higher than the national average.
Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Illinois, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
With more than 5 million volumes, Chicago Public Library is spread over 80 locations. The library has been open to the public since 1873 and plays a prominent role in spreading knowledge among the masses.
Illinois is famous for its breeze that blows off Lake Michigan and sweeps through the streets and this makes holding bonfire parties easier. Some of the best places to do bonfire in Illinois are:
Illinois’ soil is sandy with a mix of clay and this makes it perfect for planting. Most gardeners prefer this soil with big particles, mostly porous making plants intake only required water, draining out the rest.
The 156-mile Chicago River is famous for its backward flow, an engineering marvel. The officials reversed the flow of the Chicago River in 1887 to overcome extreme weather conditions and it continues even today.
Illinois is famous for its pumpkin pies and it has gone to the level that the state has declared pumpkin pie as Illinois’ official pie. The state is one of the largest cultivators of pumpkins in the US.
There’s an endless list of activities to indulge in Chicago. For art lovers, foodies, adventure seekers, and history enthusiasts – Chicago has in store something for everyone.
Here is a list of fun activities to engage in Chicago:
Chicago is the country’s sports hub and it greatly contributes to the sports culture of Illinois. Every sport, including baseball, basketball, hockey, football, and soccer have takers here. The state is home to many professional teams’ such as Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago White Sox. Even professional wrestling and motorsports are popular in Illinois.
Illinois is an education hub and is home to some of the top-ranked schools and colleges in the US. Check the list of top-rated schools and universities in Illinois.
In Chicago, pizzas are baked in a round pan similar to a pie pan, giving it the name deep-dish pizzas. They are crispy, flaky, and rich in butter, cheese, and toppings.
The weather in Illinois is extreme in both ways. The state typically experiences a continental climate with cold winters, warm summers, and frequent short fluctuations in temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and wind direction. The moderate temperatures of spring and fall are treated to be the most pleasant.
Illinois witnesses 50 days of thunderstorm activity a year, which is more than the US national average thunderstorm days. In addition, the state is also vulnerable to tornadoes with an average of 54 occurring annually.
The ‘Prairie State’ sits at the crossroads of many major interstate freeways and driving through Illinois is a breeze. If you’re in Chicago, the safest way to reach anywhere in the city is to ditch your car at home and catch a rapid transit train that connects even the remote parts of the city. Chicago is notorious for its chaotic traffic and parking charges are extremely pricey.
Cabs ply across Chicago but fares are not wallet-friendly and roads get choked in peak hours, leaving the rapid transit the only option. Yellow Cab (+1-312-829-4222) and Flash Cab (+1-773-561-4444) are two of the biggest cab companies in Chicago.
However, moving out of Chicago, driving a car is the best option.
Illinois has some of the most extensive railway lines in the country. Amtrak connects Chicago, Springfield, and a dozen smaller towns across Illinois. The California Zephyr line begins in Chicago, stopping in Naperville, Princeton, and Galesburg as it heads to California. The Texas Eagle line also starts in Chicago, stopping in Joliet, Pontiac, Lincoln, Normal, Alton, and Springfield on its way to San Antonio.
The Greyhound bus company has stops in nearly every town and city and the tickets are also cheap.
Illinois stands 28th in healthcare quality while it ranks 16th in public health. To help the residents, the state government joining hands with the Federal government has rolled out Medicaid that takes care of medical care assistance.
Medicaid pays for medical assistance for eligible children, parents and caretakers of children, pregnant women, persons who are disabled, blind or 65 years of age or older, those who were formerly in foster care services, and adults aged 19-64 who are not receiving Medicare coverage and who are not the parent or caretaker relative of a minor child.
As per health authorities in Illinois, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and pulmonary conditions are major health diseases among adults in Illinois while drug abuse, childhood obesity, stress, depression, and smoking are major health concerns among teenagers.
Majorly an agrarian state, 27 million acres of land in Illinois is farmland, which is about 75 percent of the state's total land area. Corn, soybeans, and swine are largely farmed here along with cattle, wheat, oats, sorghum, hay, sheep, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
Agriculture contributes greatly to the state economy and the state is home to about 2,640 food manufacturing companies. Illinois ranks first in the nation with $180 billion in processed food sales.
In addition to food processing and sales, agricultural commodities in Illinois also provide the base for animal feed, ink, paint, adhesives, clothing, soap, wax, cosmetics, medicines, furniture, paper, and lumber.
The primary reason for people flocking to Illinois is unlimited job opportunities complemented with better living standards.
And vast landscapes, a 365-day festival season, and freshwater beaches pep up this desire. But what most people forget is that there is more to Illinois than Chicago, which is not always brighter.
You need to weigh both the pluses and downsides of living in the ‘Prairie State’ before making the final call. We have compiled the honest pros and cons of living in Illinois.
Here's a simple summary of the pros and cons of living in Illinois.
Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Illinois.
If you decide to move to Illinois, what city or neighborhood should you choose to live?
There are tons of neighborhoods for everyone moving to Illinois regardless of your lifestyle. To help you make the right choice, we've compiled data from Home Snacks and Area Vibes about the best places to live in Illinois.
| Place | Population | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield | 18,930 | $510,600 | 2.9% |
| Western Springs | 13,227 | $540,800 | 2.4% |
| Hinsdale | 17,654 | $878,700 | 3.2% |
| Lake Bluff | 5,612 | $626,300 | 2.8% |
| Winnetkaw | 12,481 | $1,076,000 | 2.4% |
| Buffalo Grove | 41,329 | $324,600 | 4.2% |
| Elburn | 5,823 | $266,500 | 2.5% |
| Wilmette | 27,419 | $680,700 | 4.4% |
| Clarendon Hills | 8,711 | $561,700 | 1.9% |
| La Grange Park | 13,491 | $344,700 | 4.1% |
The cost of living in Illinois is fairly competitive compared to other states across the country.
Otherwise known for its low cost of living which is now rising gradually as many more people flock to the state.
According to Best Places, the cost of living in Illinois is 93.4.
According to Best Places, up to 30 percent of Illinois residents are renters and about 2.1 percent of homes and apartments in the state are available for rent.
Chances are you may decide to buy a house after moving to Illinois. We've compiled the most important housing data in the state to help you make the right decision.
Using housing data from Zillow, here's a summary of the state of Illinois housing market metric:
Your chances of getting a job if you move to Illinois is fairly high. The unemployment rate in the state is below 5 percent. Let's see how the job market in Illinois compares to the rest of the country.
These are the leading industries in Illinois according to Niche and Data USA. These industries are listed in no particular order.
Moving to Illinois means you'll most likely need a new career or continue with your current one. Using data from Zippia and Data USA, we've compiled a list of the top ten highest paying jobs in Illinois. Here they are:
How many Illinois residents has a job? This should give you an idea of what to expect when you move to the state:
How much money will you likely earn if you move to Illinois? Let's find out!
The median household income of residents in Illinois is $65,030 which is higher than the national average of $61,937, according to Data USA.
If you move to Illinois, are you going to be paying more taxes or less? SmartAsset did the math already. Let's see how much you're likely to pay for taxes in Illinois.
Regardless of how much money you're making, everyone pays a flat rate income tax in Illinois. This means everyone pays exactly the same rate. Also, Illinois sales and property taxes are rated among the highest across the U.S.
The state of Illinois is known for many things. We've compiled a simple list of most of the common things the state is well-known for. Here they are:
Illinois is the second-largest corn producer in the US and it constitutes 54% of the total farm produce in the state.
Illinois annually produces about 500 million pounds of pumpkin, and interestingly about 90% of pumpkins in the US are grown in Illinois. There are 10 counties in Illinois highly concentrated on pumpkin farming and pumpkin pie is declared the state’s official pie.
Chicago, the third-largest city in the US, is also America’s economic center. With a rich history, Chicago has highly contributed to the politics and science of the country and is also one of the most visited places on the earth.
Known as Chicago ‘L’, the rapid transit rail system connects the city with its suburbs, round-the-clock. The 102-mile network ferries about a million riders per day. The second-oldest rapid transit system in the US, it is also considered as one of the "seven wonders of Chicago".
Illinois has more than 300 colleges, community colleges, and trade schools and the state ranks high in higher education. The colleges in Illinois, such as the University of Chicago and Northwestern University excel both in academics and non-academics.
The state has also proven to be a successful turf for politicians who later became US presidents. Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama grew up in Illinois and served different positions in the state before resuming office at the White House.
Many celebrities call Illinois their home. Here’s a short list of celebrities from the state:
The robust sports culture of Illinois is visible in its passion for basketball, volleyball, football, and soccer. Home to some of the best professional teams in the country, such as the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago White Sox, Illinois is a great place to catch up on a sports event at a stadium.
About 75% of Illinois are farmlands and the state is a leading producer of soybeans, corn, and swine. Illinois has 72,000 farms, spreading over 27 million acres of land. The climate and varied soil types play a crucial role in growing many agricultural commodities, such as cattle, wheat, oats, sorghum, hay, sheep, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
US Route 66 or Highway 666 is one of the first original highways in the US, established in 1926. Starting from Chicago, Illinois, it passes through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before terminating in Los Angeles County in California.
Illinois was the first state in the US to ratify the 13th Amendment ending the slave trade on February 1, 1865, two days after the country banned slavery. It is said that the state decided to act on it even before President Abraham Lincoln signed it.
Illinois leads the states using nuclear energy and about 53% of electricity in the state is generated from nuclear energy. The state has 6 nuclear power stations, more than any US state.
Illinois permits its residents to have personalized license plates for vehicles, both four-wheelers, and two-wheelers for a fee. The fee changes based on the size and design of the plate.
The Brooks Catsup Bottle is a water tower in the south of Collinsville, often trademarked as "the World's Largest Catsup Bottle". Constructed in 1949, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Whether you're still schooling or have school age kids or not, if you're moving to Illinois, you'd most likely be interested in the best schools in the state. Here we've made a list of the best elementary, middle, high, and colleges in Illinois. Check out the list below:
Lord Baltimore Elementary School
Indian River School District, Public, PK-5 | 647 students, Rating: 10/10
Lake Forest North Elementary School
Lake Forest School District, Public, PK-4 | 544 students, Rating: 10/10
Frear (Allen) Elementary School
Caesar Rodney School District, Public, 1-5 | 734 students, Rating: 10/10
Welch (Major George S.) Elementary School
Caesar Rodney School District, Public, 1-5 | 227 students, Rating: 10/10
Johns Creek Elementary School
Forsyth County School District, Public, PK-5 | 1045 students
Southern Illinois School of the Arts
Indian River School District, Public, K-8 | 469 students, Rating: 10/10
Sussex Academy
Sussex Academy Of Arts & Sciences, Charter, 6-12 | 759 students, Rating: 10/10
Newark Charter School
Newark Charter School, Charter, K-12 | 2354 students, Rating: 9/10
Calloway (Cab) School of the Arts
Red Clay Consolidated School District, Public, 6-12 | 936 students, Rating: 9/10
Conrad Schools of Science
Red Clay Consolidated School District, Public, 6-12 | 1168 students, Rating: 9/10
River Ridge High School
River Ridge Community Unit School District 210, Public, 9-12 | 142 students
Buffalo Grove High School
Township Hsd 214 School District, Public, 9-12 | 2004 students
John Hersey High School
Township Hsd 214 School District, Public, 9-12 | 1864 students
Prospect High School
Township Hsd 214 School District, Public, 9-12 | 2150 students
Rolling Meadows High School
Township Hsd 214 School District, Public, 9-12 | 1899 students
Rank 1. University of Illinois
Rank 2. Northwestern University
Rank 3.University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Rank 4.Loyola University Chicago
Rank 5.Illinois institute of technology
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