Moving to Illinois in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

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.

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.

1. Deerfield

Population: 18,930
Median Home Value: $510,600
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

Deerfield is rated as one of the best places to live in Illinois because of its low crime rate, low unemployment rate, and livability score. The city's crime rate is about 70 percent less than the state of Illinois and U.S. average.

If you're considering moving to Illinois, Deerfield could be the right place for you to live in. Here's how Deerfield compare to the rest of Illinois:

• Deerfield, IL has a Livability Score of 81
• Crime rates in Deerfield are 68% lower than the state of Illinois average
• Cost of Living in Germantown is 21% above the state's averageDeerfield cost of living is 50% higher than the state of Illinois average
• Deerfield real estate costs are 191% above the state of Illinois average
• Rental prices in Deerfield are 69% above the state of Illinois average

2. Western Springs

Population: 13,227
Median Home Value: $590,800
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

Western Springs is nestled just between Chicago and Naperville. The city's high median household income (rated 9th highest across the state), unemployment level and low crime rates makes it one of the best places to live in Illinois.

If you're interested in moving to Illinois, here's a summary of the key metrics of living in Western Springs:

• Western Springs IL, has a Livability Score of 81
• Crime rates in Western Springs are 51% lower than the state of Illinois average
• Western Springs cost of living is 54% above the state of Illinois average
• Western Springs real estate costs are 204% above the state of Illinois average
• Rental costs in Western Springs are 81% above the state of Illinois average

3. Hinsdale

Population: 17,654
Median Home Value: $878,700
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

Hinsdale is well-known for top quality education. GreatSchools ranked all the elementary schools in the city as 9/10 while the local middle and high schools were rated 10/10. More than 40 percent of the city's population has a master's degree or higher.

Hinsdale's low-crime rate and livability score makes it one of the best places to live in Illinois. If you're considering moving to Illinois with school-age kids, Hinsdale could be the right place for you. Here's how the city compares to the rest of the state:

• Hinsdale has a Livability Score of 83
• Crime rates in Hinsdale are 76% below the state of Illinois' average
• Cost of living in Hinsdale is 93% above the state of Illinois average
• Real estate costs in Hinsdale are 392% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental costs in Hinsdale are 93% higher than the Illinois average

4. Lake Bluff

Population: 5,612
Median Home Value: $626,300
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

Lake Bluff has one of the lowest poverty rates in Illinois and it's one of the most educated communities in the state. About 40 percent of adults in Lake Bluff have a master's degree or higher while about 80 percent of adults in the city have a college degree.

If you're interested in moving to Illinois, Lake Bluff could be the right city for you. Here are key metrics about the city that makes it outstanding:

• Lake Bluff has a Livability Score of 80
• Crime rates in Lake Bluff are 67% lower than the Illinois average
• Cost of living in Lake Bluff is 64% higher than the Illinois average
• Real estate costs in Lake Bluff are 236% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental costs in Lake Bluff are 122% above the Illinois average

5. Winnetkaw

Population: 12,481
Median Home Value: $1,076,000
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

Winnetka is rated as one of the richest places in Illinois. The city has the highest median household income in the state and its real estate market is one of the most expensive statewide.

Moving to Winnetka means living in one of the best and safest cities in Illinois. Here are key metrics of how Winnetka compare to the rest of the state of Illinois:

• Winnetka has a Livability Score of 80
• Winnetka crime rates are 62% lower than the Illinois average
• Cost of living in Winnetka is 107% higher than the Illinois average
• Winnetka real estate prices are 466% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental prices in Winnetka are 76% higher than the Illinois average

6. Buffalo Grove

Population: 41,329
Median Home Value: $324,600
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

Buffalo Grove is a suburb of Chicago and has one of the lowest crime rates in the entire state. The city also has a low cost of living compared to other similar cities in the state.

Moving to Illinois could mean getting the chance to live in Buffalo Grove which is one of the best places to live in the state. Here's significant summary of how Buffalo Grove compare to other cities in Illinois:

• Buffalo Grove has a Livability Score of 77
• Buffalo Grove crime rates are 71% lower than the Illinois average
• Cost of living in Buffalo Grove is 25% higher than the Illinois average
• Buffalo Grove real estate prices are 71% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental prices in Buffalo Grove are 51% higher than the Illinois average

7. Elburn

Population: 5,823
Median Home Value: $266,500
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

Elburn is currently rated as the safest city in Illinois because of its extremely low crime rates. Compared to other similar cities in Illinois, Elburn has a lower cost of living.

Moving to Elburn, IL could be the right choice for you if you'd like to live in a city with a high population of millennials. See how Elburn compare to the rest of the state below:

• Elburn has a Livability Score of 67
• Elburn crime rates are 91% lower than the Illinois average
• Cost of living in Elburn is 15% higher than the Illinois average
• Elburn real estate prices are 38% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental prices in Elburn are 73% higher than the Illinois average

8. Wilmette

Population: 27,419
Median Home Value: $680,700
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%

Wilmette is consistently rated as the city with the highest education expenditure per student in Illinois. Almost 50 percent of the city's adults have at least a master's degree. The city also has a low crime rate and one of the highest median household incomes in the state.

If you're interested in moving to Illinois, Wilmette could be the best place for you to live in.

• Wilmette has a Livability Score of 83
• Crime rates in Wilmette are 58% lower than the Illinois average
• Wilmette's cost of living is 67% higher than the Illinois average
• Wilmette real estate costs are 264% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental costs in Wilmette are 85% higher than the Illinois average

9. Clarendon Hills

Population: 8,711
Median Home Value: $561,700
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

Clarendon Hills has one of the lowest employment rates in Illinois. The city is also well-known for its extremely low crime rates making it one of the best places to live in Illinois.

If you're moving to Illinois, living in Clarendon Hills could be the best place for you. Below is how Clarendon hills compare to other cities in the state.

• Clarendon Hills has a Livability Score of 81
• Clarendon Hills crime rates are 76% lower than the Illinois average
• Cost of living in Clarendon Hills is 42% higher than the Illinois average
• Clarendon Hills real estate prices are 178% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental prices in Clarendon Hills are 5% higher than the Illinois average

10. La Grange Park

Population: 13,491
Median Home Value: $344,700
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

La Grange Park is on this list partly because of its low crime rates which is more than 50 percent lower than the state's average. The cost of living in La Grange Park is relatively fair compared to similar cities on this list.

If you're moving to Illinois, living in La Grange Park could be the best place for you. Below are the key metrics of living in La Grange Park:

• La Grange has a Livability Score of 81
• La Grange crime rates are 54% lower than the Illinois average
• Cost of living in La Grange is 39% higher than the Illinois average
• La Grange real estate prices are 155% higher than the Illinois average
• Rental prices in La Grange are 22% higher than the Illinois average

Illinois Cities Moving Guides

According to Best Places, the cost of living in Illinois is 93.4.

Illinois Rental Market Info

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.

• The average rent price in Illinois is $1,509. The U.S. average is $1,470
• The average cost of a studio apartment is $793. The U.S. average is $821
• The average cost of a 1-bedroom home/apartment is $901. The U.S. average is $930
• The average cost of a 2-bedroom home/apartment is $1,074. The U.S. average is $1,148
• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home/apartment is $1,381. The US average is $1,537
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home/apartment is $1,629. The US average is $1,791

Illinois' Housing Market

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:

• The state of Illinois median list price per square foot is $148
• The median price of properties currently listed in Illinois is $229,900
• The median price of homes that sold in Illinois is $210,300
• The state of Illinois median home value is $204,839
• The values of homes in Illinois has increased by 1.2% over the past year
• Home values in Illinois are predicted to decrease by -2.4% within the next year
• The median price of renting a home in Illinois is $1,570

Top Industries

These are the leading industries in Illinois according to Niche and Data USA. These industries are listed in no particular order.

• Restaurants & Food Services
• Elementary & secondary schools
• Construction
• Business Services
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Education
• Agriculture
• Energy
• Biotechnology
• Sports

Top Career Options In Illinois

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:

• Computer & peripheral equipment manufacturing
• Petroleum refining
• Anesthesiologists
• Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists
• Psychiatrists
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Family Medicine Physicians
• General Internal Medicine Physicians
• Nurse Anesthetists
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Unemployment Rate In Illinois

How many Illinois residents has a job? This should give you an idea of what to expect when you move to the state:

• The unemployment rate in the state of Illinois is 4.4%. The U.S. average is 3.9%
• The state has witnessed a job market rise by 0.6% since last year
• Over the next 10 years, job growth in the state is expected to hit 26.5%. The U.S. average is expected to hit 33.5% during the same period

Median Salary Info

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.

• The average male salary in Illinois is: $74,413
• The average female salary in Illinois is: $55,889

• Illinois Income tax is 4.95% flat rate (same for everyone regardless of your earning)
• Sales tax in Illinois is 6.25% - 11%
• Illinois Property tax is 2.31% average effective rate (second highest in the U.S.)
• Illinois gas tax is 53.87 cents per gallon (regular gasoline), and 61.92 cents per gallon (diesel)
• Illinois estate tax for estates worth over $4 million is up to 16% (eligible for estate tax return
• Illinois telecommunication tax is typically up t 7% of the price of service

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.

• Corn

  Illinois is the second-largest corn producer in the US and it constitutes 54% of the total farm produce in the state.

• Pumpkin

  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

  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.

• Trains

  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".

• Colleges

  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.

• Famous celebrities and presidents

  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:

  • Walt Disney
  • Harrison Ford
  • Robin Williams
  • Bill Murray
  • Juice WRLD
  • Jim Belushi
  • Adam Baldwin
  • Jami Gertz
  • Gillian Anderson
  • William Peterson
• Sports

  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.

• Farmlands

  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.

• Route 66

  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.

• First to ratify the 13th Amendment ending slave trade

  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.

• Nuclear power

  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.

• Personalized license plates

  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.

• Largest catsup bottle

  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.

The list was collated by Great Schools using a variety of measures which include equity and academic performance.