Compare cities in Illinois
Compare 5 metro profiles in Illinois, with housing cost, climate, work, safety, daily-life, and source-labeled data.
Illinois metros to compare
- #1
Chicago, IL
Cost/climate 65, Work 77, Daily life 62, Community 72. ACS rent $1,310/mo; safety 53/100.
- #2
Champaign, IL
Cost/climate 68, Work 79, Daily life 56, Community 69. ACS rent $975/mo; safety 56/100.
- #3
Springfield, IL
Cost/climate 70, Work 78, Daily life 45, Community 52. ACS rent $921/mo; safety 56/100.
- #4
Rockford, IL
Cost/climate 74, Work 74, Daily life 42, Community 54. ACS rent $941/mo; safety 56/100.
- #5
Peoria, IL
Cost/climate 73, Work 77, Daily life 38, Community 48. ACS rent $881/mo; safety 56/100.
In-state comparisons
Retiring in Illinois: state tax treatment
| Social Security | Not taxed | Social Security benefits are exempt from Illinois income tax. |
|---|---|---|
| Pension / 401(k) / IRA | Broadly exempt | Federally qualified retirement income - pensions, 401(k), and IRA distributions - is exempt from Illinois income tax. |
| Senior property-tax relief | Available | Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption plus an income-qualified senior assessment freeze. |
| Estate tax | Yes | |
| Inheritance tax | No |
Research, not tax advice. This is an unverified snapshot retrieved 2026-07-13 from public sources — thresholds, phase-outs, and rules change every year. Verify with the Illinois revenue department and a tax professional before acting on it.
Use the Retirement Edition quiz to reweight Illinois metros around healthcare access, retirement taxes, cost, and climate comfort.
Score these Illinois cities against your own answers
State hubs use broad public-data screens. The questionnaire reweights every city around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, household needs, and daily-life priorities.
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