Moving to Illinois? Everything You Need to Know
by Jenna Mendez
12.1 min read
A Local’s Guide of Everything You Need to Know Before Moving to Illinois
Are you thinking of moving to Illinois? Then you should know that the Land of Lincoln is much more than just the Windy City of Chicago. The residents of the state of Illinois enjoy beautiful rural areas, freshwater beaches and bustling cities — all that on top of a strong economy and lower-than-average cost of living. If you’re curious if this is the right move for you, keep reading for everything you need to know about moving to the Prairie State.
Five great things about moving to Illinois
Ten great places to live in Illinois
A guide to Illinois’ major cities
Five things that make Illinois famous
Five great things about moving to Illinois
Moving to a new location is a big decision, especially if it’s a new state. One of the best ways to determine if this is the right move is to weigh the major benefits of the area and see if they align with your needs and the needs of your family. Here are five things you should consider before moving to Illinois:
- According to bestplaces.net and UpNest, the cost of living in Illinois is lower than the national average. While 20% of the population lives in Chicago, many areas outside the Windy City have a much lower cost of living, which means you can spend less on living expenses and save more for your family.
- Illinois ranks high in education, as Illinois public schools spend more on students than the U.S. average and the state hosts 184 institutions of higher education — including two of U.S. News & World Reports’ top 10 National Universities: the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
- A strong economy, with a 2022 gross domestic product of 797.97 billion U.S. dollars, earns Illinois the 5th largest GDP in the country.
- Illinois’ real estate market is very competitive, with its housing market holding up well against the current market uncertainties and high mortgage rates, with median home prices in several counties under the national average.
- A vibrant culture within and around the major cities, featuring a world class variety of cuisine, activities, sporting events, arts and cultural attractions.
Ten great places to live in Illinois
If you’re looking to become a resident of Illinois, then consider looking into these top areas, valued for the quality of their communities and high quality of life.
A north shore suburb of Chicago, Deerfield is widely recognized for its high quality of education, family-friendly community, and low crime rate. Home to many corporate headquarters, including Baxter Healthcare, Caterpillar Inc, Fortune Brand Home & Security, and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Deerfield is a center of well-paying job opportunities. Deerfield does have a higher cost of living than other Illinois communities, but that’s part of the price of being rated one of the best places to live in Illinois.
Rated the second best place to live in Cook County, Western Springs is considered to be one of the best residential areas in all of Illinois. Featuring both a high livability and lower than average cost of living, Western Springs is also known for its low crime rate and its high amounts of restaurants, boutiques and parks. Featuring an easy commute to Chicago and highly rated schools, this is one Illinois area you’ll definitely want to consider.
Southwest of downtown Chicago you’ll find the affluent suburb of Hinsdale, considered one of the safest and most family-friendly areas in all of Illinois. Though it has a higher cost of living than other areas, Hinsdale is well-regarded for its large number of parks, historic landmarks and museums. With highly rated schools, great amenities and a short commute into Chicago, Hinsdale is a great place to raise a family.
Located in Lake County, Lake Bluff is a small town surrounded by natural beauty, including the beaches of Lake Michigan. Ranked by Chicago Magazine as one of the 20 great towns and neighborhoods of the Chicago Metropolitan area, Lake Bluff features an abundance of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. With a lower than average cost of living and above average ratings for livability and quality of education, Lake Bluff is a worthy consideration.
Ranked number 8 on the list of Top 100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest for 2020, Buffalo Grove has also been fifth for best public schools in America. A green and open suburb located north of Chicago, the area is well known for its Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Arts Festival in July and the September Buffalo Grove Days Festival.
A northwest suburb of Chicago, Kildeer is home to several parks, including a nature center with walking trails and a beach for swimming, that provide a great range of recreational activities. Highly rated for the quality of its public schools, housing, and safety, Kildeer also has a plethora of shopping and dining experiences.
Recently rated the number 1 Best Place to Live in Illinois by Niche, which also reports that this Lake County suburban area has highly rated public schools and earns an A+ ranking for family-friendliness. Bannockburn is considered to have a great mix of suburban real estate and urban attractions — offering a nice combination of attractions and businesses in an idyllic setting.
The self-proclaimed “City of Gardens” is enjoying a renaissance of development and progress. Once a bustling manufacturing center, Rockford experienced a heavy economic downturn in previous decades, but recent investments and developments are helping to turn things around. The third-largest city outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, Rockford offers a lower-than-average cost of living, world-class attractions and plentiful recreational activities.
The state capital of Illinois, though Springfield is not heavily populated, it is the second-largest Illinois city in area outside of Chicago (just behind Rockland) giving residents plenty of space. It’s host to an incredible amount of attractions and activities, including the Illinois State Fair, 41 parks, a wildlife sanctuary, a botanical garden and a city nightlife featuring an wide array of bars, taverns and nightclubs. Despite its size, Springfield still offers a dense suburban feel, high quality of life, and lower than average cost of living.
Just west of Chicago is Naperville, a family-friendly destination with a thriving food scene. While it does have a higher-than-average cost of living, it can be worth it for the security of a low crime rate, great public schools, and well-paying employment opportunities.
“Illinois surpasses every other spot of equal extent upon the face of the globe… and consequently that she is endowed by nature with the capacity of sustaining a greater amount of agricultural wealth and population than any other equal extent of territory in the world.” — from the Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
A guide to Illinois’ major cities
Looking for a faster pace of life outside the suburban and rural areas? Illinois’ major metropolitan areas offer a wide array of activities, culture, and attractions.
- Chicago. Simply put, everyone should visit the city of Chicago at least once in their lifetime. When you visit the Windy City, you’ll find:
- 6 award-winning theater companies
- Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- The Field Museum
- Millenium Park & Grant Park
- The Chicago Riverwalk
- The Second City sketch comedy troupe
- Wrigley Field
- 60+ breweries
- Dozens of Michelin Star restaurants
- and much more!
- Aurora. An extremely popular travel destination, Aurora offers a small town feel with a lot of big amenities. Whether you’re looking to test your luck at the Hollywood Casino, get splashed at Raging Waves water park, or take in a show at the Paramount Theatre or Sandwich Opera House, there’s a lot to enjoy. If you’re visiting Aurora in the summer, check out the summer concert series hosted at the beautiful RiverEdge Park.
- Springfield. As mentioned above, Springfield has a wide array of attractions and activities — meaning that even if you don’t live there it’s definitely worth a visit. As the home city of Abraham Lincoln, history buffs have a wealth of sites to visit, including New Salem Historic Village, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Old State Capitol, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. You can also visit Lincoln’s Tomb in Oakridge Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark. Springfield is also considered a top antiquing destination and cultural center.
Where to work when you move to Illinois
Illinois is home to a wide variety of industries, providing employment opportunities in the following sectors:
- Advanced Manufacturing: Employers include Ford Motor Co., CTS Corporation, Tropicana Beverage Group, Weber Grills, John Deere, Caterpillar Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., and Fiat Chrysler (FCA) USA.
- Biotechnology: Employers include Archer Daniels Midland, CF Industries, Pentair, Abbott Laboratories, Baxter Healthcare and Nanosphere
- Energy industry: Employers include BP America Inc., Exelon, Invenergy, Locusview, Shell, and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd).
- Agriculture: Employers include Archer Daniels Midland, Cresco Labs, Ball Horticultural, Precision Planting, Sloan Implement, and OEM Tractor Parts.
- Education: Employers include The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Midwestern University, Purdue University, Kaplan, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and numerous K-12 schools.
Experience five of the things that make Illinois famous!
- You can keep your fancy flatbreads and greasy slices, everyone knows that deep dish pizza is better than regular crust.
- Plenty of professional sports teams call Illinois home, and it’s harder to find a single city with more storied franchises than Chicago — or maybe you’ve never heard of the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox, or Blackhawks?
- Get your start on the most famous road in America with Route 66. If you’ve never traveled the “Main Street of America,” it’s never too late to kick off the ultimate road trip at Chicago’s famous corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue.
- There’s so much to see and do in Chicago, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Thankfully there’s plenty of Chicago tours that can take you to some of the best food, drink, attractions, parks and museums in the world.
- As one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is a favored destination for its nearly 1,000 miles of freshwater coastline, perfect for sunning or sailing.
Four tips for moving to Illinois
Before any move, it’s important to have a plan in place, and moving to Illinois shouldn’t be any different. Consider these three tips to ensure that you’re prepared and so that your move will be as stress-free as possible.
- Visit and stay awhile
Think you found the perfect city or town to put down new roots? Take some time to visit before you make your move official. The best way to be sure that the location of your dreams lives up to your expectations is to spend some time getting to know it firsthand. - Make a list
There’s a lot to think about before you move, so you’ll need as much help as you can get when it comes to keeping track of everything you need to do to prepare. Making a checklist of all the tasks you need to complete — hiring movers, submitting a change of address form with the post office, donating unwanted items — will not only help your move go smoothly but give you peace of mind as well. - Get documentation.
To prove your residency in Illinois, you may need to acquire and provide documentation such as a Illinois driver’s license or state ID, vehicle registration, voter registration, lease agreement, or utility bills. - Get your utilities set up early
The last thing you want to do after unloading the moving truck is wait for the lights and heat to get turned on. That’s why it’s a good idea to select your energy and gas company before you move in. At Santanna Energy Services, we have better energy and gas solutions for your new home including fixed-rate and unlimited plans, as well as earth-friendly electricity and gas.
FAQs About Relocating to Illinois
Q: How does the cost of living in Illinois compare to the rest of the country?
A: In general the cost of living in Illinois is lower than the national average. However, this does vary by location, with the cost of living in Chicago roughly 20% higher than the national average.
Q: How’s the job market in Illinois?
A: As Illinois is home to the 5th largest economy in the U.S., its job market is one of the most robust in the nation. Current projections by the Illinois government paint a steady, though modest, continued job growth through to 2030.
Q: What are the best schools in Illinois?
A: If you’re looking for top ranked high schools in Illinois, U.S. News & World Report has a complete listing of Illinois’ 724 high schools. As of this writing, the top three rated schools are Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, Northside College Preparatory High School and Jones College Prep High School.
Q: How’s the weather in Illinois?
A: Illinois’ climate has been described as “humid continental” which means four distinct seasons ranging from warm summers to cold winters. There is an “extreme variability” of weather conditions across the state, which can include severe storms and even tornados in parts of the state. Average summer highs are in the 80s with lows in the 60s, while winter highs range from the 30s in the north to the mid-40s in the south, and lows to the teens and upper 20s.
Q: Is crime a problem in Illinois?
A: Chicago does have higher rates of violent crimes and gun violence than the national average, and the state as whole saw a higher rate of violent crimes over the past couple of years. However, the rates of property crime have fallen. While crime can be a problem in certain metro areas, overall the state is considered safer than 60% of the other states.
Q: How do you pronounce Illinois?
A: Yes, this is one of the most mispronounced states in the union. Just remember that the “s” is silent — it’s “Il-ih-NOY,” not “Ill-ih-NOISE.”
Welcome to Illinois!
Finding a location for your next home is an important decision, and so is choosing your next energy provider. At Santanna Energy Services, we have multiple energy plans tailored to your lifestyle. Check a box off your moving checklist today: View plans in your new neighborhood.
Jenna loves to use her voice to spread awareness about reforestation, eco-friendly initiatives, and protecting planet Earth. She's passionate about making the world a better place and is driven by her desire to give back to the planet. She is committed to learning more about the environment and its preservation and is a strong believer in the power of education and activism.
