Illinois is one of the best states to live in the U.S., especially for quality of life, according to a new ranking from finance website WalletHub.
The Aug. 12 “Best States to Live in 2024” analysis compared all 50 U.S. states for 51 metrics in five categories, including affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life and safety. Illinois landed in 37th place for affordability, 49th place for economy, 22nd for education and health, fifth for quality of life and sixth for safety.
WalletHub ranked the Land of Lincoln the 16th best state to live in overall, while Missouri was in 31st. Massachusetts received the top spot on the list and Louisiana was ranked in 50th place.
Cost of living, home ownership rate, unemployment, public school quality, average commute times and crime rates were all considered in the state’s placements. WalletHub reports its sources included the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and more.
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More on Illinois’ ranking
Illinois ranked in the top 10 for several categories. The state was in seventh place for a metric on the lowest debt to earnings ratio for full-time employees, and also snagged a fourth place position for access to public transportation.
Other categories where Illinois ranked highly include restaurants per capita (fifth), bars per capita (second), theaters per capita (fourth), gyms per capita (seventh) and police officers per capita (sixth). Many of these categories contributed to Illinois’ fifth-place quality of life ranking.
The state struggled in metrics such as median real estate tax rate, unemployment rate, underemployment rate, population growth, wealth gap, “tax-friendliness,” foreclosure rates, job opportunities, bankruptcy filings and average commute time.
Here’s more on life in Illinois, from the Census Bureau:
— Population estimate: 12,549,689
— Race and Hispanic origin: 76% white alone, 58.8% white alone not Hispanic or Latino, 19% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Black or African American alone, 6.3% Asian alone, 2.3% two or more races, 0.6% Native American and Alaska Native alone, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone
— Median monthly home ownership cost with mortgage: $1,903
— Median household income: $78,433
Several Illinois localities have been recently lauded in national rankings. Prairie Crossing, a subdivision of Grayslake, was named in financial magazine Money’s list The Best 50 Places to Live in the U.S., and Elgin was named the safest and most affordable city to live in the nation by Go Banking Rates.
Peoria and Rockford each made a U.S. News & World Report list for the 25 Best Affordable Places to Live in the U.S.
Here’s how the top 25 best states to live in compared, according to WalletHub:
The 2024 Illinois State Butter Cow has been unveiled.
Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years
2012 State Fair
Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, participates in a rally on Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in Springfield.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2012 State Fair
Republican party supporters participate in a rally on Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012 in Springfield.
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2015 State Fair
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner bid $61,000 for the Grand Champion Land of Lincoln steer, during the auction held at the Illinois State Fair, Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Rauner poses with Taylor Donelson, 19, of Clinton, along with country music star Scotty McCreery.Â
STEVE SMEDLEY, THE PANTAGRAPH
2015 State Fair
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signals thumbs up as he bids $61,000 dollars for the Grand Champion Land of Lincoln steer, during the auction held at the Illinois State Fair, Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Taylor Donelson, 19, of Clinton, showed the steer.Â
STEVE SMEDLEY, THE PANTAGRAPH
2015 State Fair
Gov. Bruce Rauner pets the Grand Champion Land of Lincoln steer he bid $61 thousand dollars for during the auction held at the Illinois State Fair, Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Taylor Donelson, 19, of Clinton, showed the steer.Â
STEVE SMEDLEY, THE PANTAGRAPH
2007 State Fair
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, seated, shakes the hand of House Speaker Michael Madigan as Madigan walks to the podium to address the crowd during the Democrat Rally at the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, in Springfield.Â
JONATHAN KIRSHNER, THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER VIA AP
2008 State Fair
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, right, and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, left, participate in a Democratic rally on Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2008 State Fair
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is surround by reporters at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill., Friday Aug. 8, 2008.
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2009 State Fair
Illinois Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, campaigns while at the Illinois State Fair during a Republican Day rally in Springfield on Thursday, Aug 20, 2009.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2012 State Fair
Union protesters, supporters and labor leaders protest Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn saying he is betraying the Democratic party’s tradition of supporting working men and women, on Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Springfield.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2012 State Fair
Surrounded by booing union members, supporters and labor leaders Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, right, tries to still greet those attending the Governor’s Day rally at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Springfield.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2005 State Fair
Illinois gubernatorial candidates from left; Bill Brady, Ron Gidwitz, Jim Oberweis, and Steve Rauschenberger sit together during a Republican Day rally Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2004 State Fair
Illinois Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Barack Obama, left, is surrounded by supporters hoping to get an autograph or shake his hand during Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2003 State Fair
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, third from left, his wife, Patti, left, daughter, Amy, second from left, Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2003 Jamie Bolander, fourth from left, Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, third from right, Sen. Vince Demuzio, D-Carlinville, second from right, and Illinois Director of Agriculture Chuck Hartke, right, cut the opening ribon of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Friday, Aug. 8, 2003.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2003 State Fair
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, left, shakes hands with fellow Democrats, sitting from left, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, and Illinois State Comptroller Daniel Hynes during Democrats Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2006 State Fair
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is surrounded by reporters as he attends a “Democrat Day” rally at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2007 State Fair
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, left, and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, right, confer during the Democrat Rally at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007.
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2012 State Fair
Mike Phillips, of Vandalia, and other union protesters, supporters and labor leaders boo Gov. Pat Quinn in protest saying he is betraying the Democratic party’s tradition of supporting working men and women, on Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Springfield.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2018 State Fair
Gov. Bruce Rauner greets supporters before he takes the stage at Governor’s Day on Aug. 15, 2018, at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.Â
RICH SAAL, THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
2012 State Fair
Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, left, and Gov. Pat Quinn, right, confer as union members, supporters and labor leaders protest on Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Springfield.Â
SETH PERLMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
2021 State Fair
Illinois State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, a republican candidate for Illinois Governor, visits with supporters during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair on the Director’s Lawn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021.Â
JUSTIN L. FOWLER, THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER VIA AP
2021 State Fair
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., delivers her remarks during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair on the Director’s Lawn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Aug. 19.
JUSTIN L. FOWLER, THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER VIA AP
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Publish date : 2024-08-25 02:03:00
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