So, you’re curious about living in Illinois? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Illinois.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Illinois matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Illinois is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Illinois
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Illinois is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Illinois:
- Illinois is one of the best states for business and has a thriving economy.
- It also boasts some of the top universities in America.
- It offers an active lifestyle with plenty to do outdoors!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Illinois:
- While it’s not too hot here, summertime can be really humid. If you’re looking for something more tropical, then keep on searching – this state might not be your perfect match.
- Taxes are higher than many other states.
Read More: Is Illinois a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Illinois
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Illinois? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Illinois!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Illinois.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Illinois:
- Aurora
- Chicago
- Clarendon Hills
- Naperville
- Rockford
- Springfield
- Winnetka
Read More: Best Places to Live in Illinois
Checklist for Moving to Illinois
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Illinois. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Illinois.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Illinois:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Illinois driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Illinois
- Getting Illinois car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Illinois and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Illinois.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Illinois and your previous home state.
Visit your Illinois Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Illinois Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Illinois.
Things to Know About Living in Illinois
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Illinois, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Illinois
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Illinois ranks 19th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 94.4, meaning it’s a relatively less expensive place to live.
Here is how Illinois scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 97.4
- Housing: 85.2
- Utilities: 95.8
- Transportation: 106.5
- Health: 97.6
- Miscellaneous: 96.7
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Illinois
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Illinois from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Illinois’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6.25%, with an average local rate of 2.75% (the highest local sales tax rate is 9.75%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 8.82%.
Check with the Illinois tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Illinois
If you own or plan to own real estate in Illinois, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Illinois ranks 50th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 2.27%
.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Illinois tax office for the most current tax rates.
Illinois’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Illinois is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Illinois ranks 5th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Transportation and warehousing
- Construction
The top employer in Illinois is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Illinois
Our Illinois moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Illinois is the Willis Tower.
National Monuments that you can find in Illinois include:
- Pullman National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Illinois
Illinois is the 21st state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is Wisconsin, to its south is Kentucky, to its east is Indiana, and to its west is Iowa and Missouri.
What is the capital of Illinois?
The capital of Illinois is Springfield.
Springfield is located in Sangamon County with a population of 116,250.
What is the population of Illinois?
The population of Illinois based on 2020 US Census data is 12,812,508.
What is the largest city in Illinois?
The largest city in Illinois is Chicago.
Chicago has a population of 2,705,994, and it is located in Cook and DuPage counties.
What is the size of Illinois?
Illinois is 57,914 square miles, making it the 25th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Illinois?
The state motto of Illinois is: State sovereignty, national union
What is the state bird of Illinois?
The state bird of Illinois is the Northern cardinal.
What is the state flower of Illinois?
The state flower of Illinois is the Violet.
What is the state tree of Illinois?
The state tree of Illinois is the White Oak.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Illinois?
The minimum wage in Illinois is $11.00 per hour.
What is the median income in Illinois?
The median annual household salary in Illinois is $65,030.