The Greatest Locations to Stay in Illinois

Illinois is a state with plenty of historical past and many identities: The Prairie State, Land of Lincoln, The Crossroads of a Continent, and extra. It’s a state with bustling metropolis streets and quiet small cities. Rural and concrete. Deep-dish pizza and miles and miles of corn fields.

In the event you’re studying this, you may be contemplating a transfer to Illinois. Possibly you discovered a very good job within the large metropolis. Otherwise you’re on the lookout for a pleasant city to boost a household. Otherwise you may be on the lookout for the peace and quiet of a small group after retirement.

Let’s check out the very best locations to reside in Illinois.

Illinois could be divided into three broad areas: northern, central and southern. Every area has a definite id primarily based on its geography in addition to the native tradition.

However irrespective of which area you would possibly name house, you’ll expertise the enjoyable and not-so-fun facets of life in Illinois. Illinois has plenty of wide-open areas exterior the cities that give approach to outside enjoyable, like lake life in the course of the summer time and snow actions in the course of the winter. However these summers and winters could be excessive at instances—the winters being particularly lengthy and chilly within the north.

Many areas in Illinois might need a low value of dwelling, however state and native taxes are among the many highest within the nation. Property taxes specifically are extraordinarily excessive (solely New Jersey is worse).¹ The state additionally has a flat revenue tax of 4.95%, irrespective of the dimensions of your revenue.² So be ready to issue these into your cost-of-living estimates in addition to your future price range.

Due to document excessive taxes, to not point out the rising crime discovered within the bigger cities, not many individuals are shifting to Illinois—and plenty of Illinoisans are leaving. The state’s drop in inhabitants in the course of the nice migration of 2020–2021 was second solely to New York.³ The truth is, the inhabitants of Illinois has dropped eight years in a row—a lot that the state not too long ago misplaced a seat within the U.S. Home of Representatives.⁴

With all that mentioned, that doesn’t imply there aren’t good locations to reside in Illinois. It simply requires a bit extra analysis in your half.

So, let’s get into a few of the finest cities and metro areas in Illinois so you may evaluate their stats and options to see if any stand out to you. We’ve included metro areas as a result of many Illinois residents who work within the large cities choose to reside exterior town limits and commute to work.

Another factor: All “finest locations” lists are subjective, together with this one. Whereas we did use some information, a “finest place to reside” stays purely opinion and can finally rely in your private likes and dislikes. For instance, some individuals truly love busy metropolis life whereas others choose a extra laid-back place out within the sticks. So as to add just a little extra authenticity to our checklist, we consulted a number of former and present Illinoisans who gave us some insights primarily based on their private expertise.

So, listed here are the very best place to reside in Illinois. We’ve sorted them by area and in no explicit order.

The Greatest Locations to Stay in Northern Illinois

We’re beginning our trek by the Prairie State in essentially the most un-prairie a part of it. As a result of it consists of the Chicago metro space, northern Illinois is essentially the most densely populated a part of the state and incorporates many of the state’s industrial engines. However it’s not all metropolis there—actually, northern Illinois appears loads like the remainder of the state (flat and inexperienced) when you get out of Chicago.

All this makes northern Illinois the most costly area to reside in—particularly the nearer you get to Chicago.

Galena

Positioned within the northwestern tip of Illinois, Galena is a small city with lots of appeal cultivated primarily from its wealthy historical past. Over 60% of the buildings within the metropolis are below the Galena Historic District—preserving town’s look from the 1800s.⁵ Galena can also be the hometown of President Ulysses S. Grant. His postwar house in Galena is a Nationwide Historic Landmark.

Right this moment, Galena is a bustling vacationer vacation spot that draws nearly 1,000,000 individuals a yr with plenty of outside festivals, actions in each winter and summer time, quaint resorts and B&Bs, and extra.⁶

^{*For every metropolis, the metro space inhabitants numbers
embrace the citytogether with the encompassing city and suburban areas.
**Hire information for Galena is predicated on a basic common;
the others are primarily based on the typical lease for a two-bedroom condo}

Rockford

Rockford is a picturesque metropolis with a full of life native tradition and many inexperienced areas like parks and Japanese gardens. It’s no marvel why Rockford known as the Metropolis of Gardens. It’s one of many largest cities in Illinois exterior of Chicago, however nonetheless retains a small-town really feel. The Rock River cuts proper by the center of town and is the place for a lot of occasions, like water ski exhibits in the summertime and Christmas mild shows within the winter.

In the event you’re accustomed to the 1992 film A League of Their Personal, Rockford is house to the Peaches—the ladies’s baseball group on the heart of the story. The town pays tribute to that historical past with a city-wide Peaches Fan Path. Along with Peaches historical past, Rockford can also be house to cultural facilities, theaters, a symphony orchestra, and plenty of world-class museums, just like the Burpee Museum of Pure Historical past.

Greatest Suburbs of Rockford

In order for you all that Rockford has to supply, however don’t need to reside proper in the course of it, listed here are some very good suburb choices which can be shut sufficient to the motion.

Quad Cities

Divided by the Mississippi River, the Quad Cities metro space covers 5 cities in two states: Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois. You may be asking your self why it isn’t “Quint Cities” as a substitute of “Quad Cities.” Nicely, when Bettendorf grew right into a metropolis as large as its 4 sisters within the Seventies, some people needed to undertake “Quint Cities,” nevertheless it by no means caught on. Previous habits positively die exhausting!

The Quad Cities is one other space that gives that enjoyable combo of metropolis pleasure whereas retaining the small-town really feel. An enormous chunk of the trade right here is manufacturing. The truth is, John Deere is headquartered in Moline. However the Quad Cities additionally has facilities of tradition and commerce, like The District in Rock Island. To not point out plenty of alternatives for outside play and sports activities.

Greatest Suburbs of the Quad Cities

The Quad Cities could supply the large metropolis vibe with a small-town really feel, however if you wish to reside in an precise small city close to the large metropolis motion, listed here are some good little cities and villages that can match the invoice.

• Aledo
• Carbon Cliff
• Fulton
• Geneseo
• Hampton
• Milan
• Port Byron
• Silvis

Chicago

And now we come to the Chicago metro space (also referred to as Chicagoland)—the largest metro space in Illinois and the third largest within the nation (behind New York Metropolis and Los Angeles).²² Like its larger east- and west-coast cousins, the Windy Metropolis is a world heart for trade and commerce with towering skyscrapers. Lake Michigan provides to town’s magnificence and character.

Chicago has loads of museums, theaters, parks and vacationer points of interest like Navy Pier. The meals can also be well-known—particularly the deep-dish pizza, popcorn and Italian beef sandwiches. And several other skilled sports activities groups name Chicago house: dah Cubs (MLB), dah Sox (MLB), dah Bulls (NBA), dah Blackhawks (NHL), dah Hearth (MLS) and . . . daaaah Bears (NFL).

Greatest Suburbs of Chicago

Lots of the individuals who work in Chicago reside exterior town in one of many small surrounding cities and suburbs—commuting in utilizing town’s public transportation system (Chicago is a hub for Amtrak). You possibly can even take the practice for a day at Wrigley Discipline to observe the Cubs play! Listed below are a number of of the highest communities surrounding Chicago.

The Greatest Locations to Stay in Central Illinois

Numerous individuals suppose that there are solely two areas of Illinois: Chicago and every thing else. Whereas that may be true when speaking concerning the inhabitants of Illinois (the Chicago metro space has nearly two-thirds of the state’s complete inhabitants), many of the land within the state is rural, particularly in Central Illinois.^28,29

We’re speaking tens of hundreds of thousands of acres dominated by forests and farmland. The farms of Central Illinois concentrate on soybeans and corn—serving to provide the complete nation with each. And since the state is the largest supplier of pumpkins in all of America, there’s a reasonably good likelihood that your Halloween jack-o-lantern got here from a farm in Central Illinois.³⁰

You’ll discover plenty of mid-size cities and small cities peppered in between inexperienced pastures and fields of golden corn. They’re good for the kind of people who need to escape the hustle and bustle of big-city life and have a decrease value of dwelling.

Peoria

The Illinois River supplies a wonderful backdrop on the east aspect of Peoria. The river is such a significant a part of town’s character that Peoria is revitalizing its riverfront with much more group house for a number of festivals all year long. The town has actions for each style and curiosity—from ax throwing and escape rooms to museums and a symphony orchestra. It additionally holds the nation’s longest-running Christmas parade annually. And the Peoria Worldwide Airport affords service to a bunch of locations with out the stress of a big-city airport.

Well being care and manufacturing are Peoria’s largest industries.³¹ The truth is, Caterpillar, the parents who make all these cool building machines, was primarily based in Peoria for over 100 years earlier than shifting to Texas in 2022 (these excessive Illinois taxes even apply to companies!). However they nonetheless have a presence within the metropolis with their 720-acre guests heart, museum and demonstration space. What boy wouldn’t like to play in that sandbox?

Greatest Suburbs of Peoria

In order for you all of the river-fueled enjoyable of Peoria with out a few of the points like crime, try these nice suburbs.

Springfield

Earlier than he was elected president, Abraham Lincoln spent most of his grownup life in Illinois. And if there’s one metropolis that would carry the title of the Lincoln capital of Illinois, Springfield could be the place (it simply so occurs that Springfield can also be the literal state capital). When he left Springfield for Washington, D.C., in 1861, Lincoln wrote, “To this place, and the kindness of those individuals, I owe every thing.”

Now who can beat an endorsement from Sincere Abe? Lincoln followers will discover many historic websites within the Springfield space associated to the sixteenth president, just like the Lincoln Residence, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, a re-creation of the city of New Salem, the Lincoln Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery, and extra.

Exterior of the wonderful historical past, Springfield additionally has plenty of native eateries and hotspots. The Illinois State Honest is a big draw to Springfield annually. The College of Illinois additionally has a campus in Springfield. And since Springfield is the state capital, the state of Illinois is the biggest employer within the metropolis, adopted by Memorial Well being and Springfield Public Colleges.³⁷

Greatest Suburbs of Springfield

Searching for a small city to name house close to Springfield? Try these nice examples.

• Auburn
• Chatham
• Jerome
• Leland Grove
• Rochester
• Pawnee
• Petersburg
• Sherman
• Williamsville

Decatur

A real blue-collar metropolis, Decatur is a city that revolves round agriculture and manufacturing. The town is called the Soybean Capital of the World and is a nationwide chief in soybean and corn processing courtesy of crops owned by corporations like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Tate & Lyle.⁴³ Whereas the processing crops preserve the native economic system buzzing, additionally they generate a foul odor that may be overpowering the nearer you get to them.

Decatur isn’t all enterprise, although. The tight-knit local people is alive with festivals and occasions all year long. The Scovill Zoo, situated on the banks of Lake Decatur, is a good place for household enjoyable, as is the Kids’s Museum of Illinois. And in the course of the summer time, you may cool off within the lake or at Splash Cove water park.

Greatest Suburbs of Decatur

Working in Decatur however the odor of soybeans simply isn’t your factor? Attempt a few of these close by small cities with a speedy commute to and from town.

• Assumption
• Clinton
• Dalton Metropolis
• Lincoln
• Moweaqua
• Mount Zion
• Sullivan

Champaign-Urbana

With the Champaign-Urbana metro space, you’re getting the joy of a faculty city and all of the facilities of a giant metropolis. Champaign-Urbana (or “Chambana” to the locals) is a twin metropolis metro space: Champaign to the west and Urbana to the east. And sandwiched in between is the College of Illinois, house of the Combating Illini.

There’s all the time one thing to do within the three downtown areas (Champaign, Urbana and Campustown)—each with its personal vibe, native tradition and numerous meals choices. There’s theater, reside music festivals, school sports activities at State Farm Heart, and the Ebertfest movie pageant (legendary movie critic Roger Ebert was a local of the realm). The unemployment fee is low right here, as Champaign-Urbana hosts regional places of work for a number of Fortune 500 corporations, together with Kraft Heinz.

Greatest Suburbs of Champaign-Urbana

In the event you’re somebody who can solely take the joy of a faculty city in small doses, check out a few of the smaller cities and villages that encompass Champaign-Urbana.

The Greatest Locations to Stay in Southern Illinois

It appears that evidently the additional south you get from Chicago, the extra rural and woodsy Illinois turns into—and southern Illinois might be essentially the most rural and woodsy a part of the state. A very good chunk of the realm is taken up by the Shawnee Nationwide Forest and the cities in between the farms of wheat, corn and soy are comparatively small. Many of the residents determine extra with the Southern tradition of close by Kentucky than they do with town slickers in Chicago!

The fertile and inexperienced panorama of southern Illinois, with its rivers and streams, resembled the Nile River Delta to the early settlers, which is alleged to be one of many explanation why the realm remains to be referred to as “Little Egypt.” Southern Illinois has many cities with Egyptian names like Cairo (pronounced “kay-roh”), Thebes and Karnak. And after the winter of 1831–32 devastated northern Illinois crops, southern Illinois offered their northern neighbors with grain, like within the biblical story of Joseph.

Metro East

Metro East, essentially the most populated space in southern Illinois, is just a little totally different than the opposite metro areas we’ve listed right here. It’s truly thought of a part of the metro space for St. Louis, Missouri, which is situated straight throughout the Mississippi River. Belleville is the biggest metropolis however is a suburb of St. Louis—as are the remainder of the encompassing small cities, villages and cities in 4 Illinois counties.

Which means that in the event you’re on the lookout for entry to big-city facilities however need to put a literal river between you and the big-city issues, Metro East may be a spot so that you can settle. However every city additionally has its personal legends, legacy, tradition and character. Downtown Belleville is full of plenty of distinctive eating places and retailers. And Columbia affords small-town traditions like a Christmas tree lighting and the Scarecrow Crawl.

Greatest Suburbs in Metro East

Carbondale

Following the Mississippi River south of Metro East, we come to Carbondale. That is one other school city (house of the primary campus of Southern Illinois College), however not as busy or rowdy as Champaign-Urbana.

Carbondale has its personal concepts of enjoyable, like sundown live shows within the metropolis’s many parks, racing cardboard boats (and watching them sink), and the annual Lights Incredible Christmas Parade. The town is called one of many essential hubs of the Shawnee Hills Wine Path, that includes 11 of the Midwest’s most interesting wineries. Given its proximity to Shawnee Nationwide Forest, Carbondale can also be large on the outside, with plenty of nature trails and campgrounds.

Marion

East of Carbondale on Illinois State Route 13 is Marion, named for the legendary American Revolutionary Conflict hero Francis Marion (the “Swamp Fox”). Carbondale and Marion share the identical metro space and are comparable in dimension, however Marion is called the middle of commerce and trade in southern Illinois. Firms like Pepsi, Normal Dynamics and Blue Cross/Blue Protect all have places of work right here.

Like Carbondale, Marion is a good jumping-off level to all types of nature-based actions. The Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge affords issues like tenting, climbing, fishing, kayaking and extra.

Mount Vernon

Named for the Virginia plantation house of George Washington, Mount Vernon is a metropolis with an extended historical past—one which beats Illinois’ personal admission into the union by one yr! Regardless that there are a lot of historic websites to expertise round Mount Vernon (just like the Jefferson County Historic Village), this can be a metropolis centered round creativity. It’s gained a repute for its group actions just like the Southern Illinois Metal Guitar Present and the Midwest Gentle Sport Plane Expo. Mount Vernon additionally has its personal city-sponsored waterpark, the Aquatic Zoo.

Greatest Locations in Illinois for Households

In the event you’re bringing a home full of children to the Prairie State, elements like faculty high quality and security are in all probability on the prime of your thoughts. Listed below are some examples of cities and cities that present a pleasant place to boost your loved ones.

Greatest Locations in Illinois for Younger Adults

The younger and single skilled set will discover loads of actions and nightlife in these Illinois cities.

Greatest Locations in Illinois to Retire

Illinois would possibly like to tax every thing that isn’t nailed down, nevertheless it doesn’t tax retirement revenue, pensions and Social Safety funds.⁷⁴ That’s music to the ears of retirees. Listed below are some cities and areas that supply peace and quiet, together with shut proximity to high quality medical care.

Able to Transfer to Illinois?

Now that that there’s extra to Illinois than Chicago (although that Italian beef is fairly fantastic), you might need your sights set on a pleasant little spot within the Prairie State to name house—whether or not that be city, suburban or rural, Illinois has acquired all of it.

So, what’s the next move in your approach to that Illinois life you need? Listed below are some concepts to begin on.