State Comparison

Illinois vs Kansas

Kansas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Kansas, Illinois has higher incomes, Illinois has lower state income tax, and Kansas gets more sunshine.

Illinois

IL • Midwest

Quality of Life Score

54.60

Kansas

KS • Midwest

Overall winner

Quality of Life Score

52.20

Illinois

10 / 31

metrics won

Score

Kansas

21 / 31

metrics won

Wins

KS wins Housing

KS wins Quality of Life

KS wins Climate

KS wins Income

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

Illinois winner

54.60

Kansas

52.20

Illinois scores higher on quality of life — 2.40 points difference.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

Kansas is 5.0 points cheaper overall

Kansas has the lower cost-of-living index. Kansas is at 90.2, while Illinois is at 95.2.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $8.80 further in Kansas

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $113.09 of local buying power in Kansas, versus $104.29 in Illinois.

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Income

Illinois income is 17.1% higher

Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, compared with $66,962 in Kansas.

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Jobs

Illinois minimum wage is $7.75 higher

Illinois has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Kansas.

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Housing

Illinois homes cost about 1.3x more

Kansas has the lower median home value at $185,900, versus $247,500 in Illinois.

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Taxes

Illinois has lower state income tax

Illinois has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.95%, compared with 5.70% in Kansas.

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Take-Home Calculator

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Illinois

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 5.0%): —
After state tax: —
Real buying power (BEA RPP): —

Kansas

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 5.7%): —
After state tax: —
Real buying power (BEA RPP): —

Cost-of-Living Equivalent

—

* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (97.6 for Illinois, 88.9 for Kansas). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.

Tradeoffs

Pros and cons for each state

A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.

Illinois

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: Illinois

Illinois shows higher median income.
Illinois has a lower violent crime rate.
Illinois job growth trend is stronger.
Illinois health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Illinois health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Illinois education proxy is higher.

Cons

Illinois has a higher overall cost of living.
Illinois has a higher housing cost index.
Illinois has higher median home values.
Illinois has higher property tax rates on average.
Illinois has fewer sunny days.

Kansas

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: Kansas

Kansas has a lower overall cost of living.
Kansas has a lower housing cost index.
Kansas has lower median home values.
Kansas has lower property tax rates on average.
Kansas has more sunny days.

Cons

Kansas shows lower median income.
Kansas has a higher violent crime rate.
Kansas job growth trend is weaker.
Kansas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Kansas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Kansas education proxy is lower.

Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Springfield	Topeka	Details ->
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Red	Details ->
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	12,812,508	2,937,880	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$78,433	$66,962	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	95.2	90.2	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$247,500	$185,900	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	2.01%	1.29%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	4.95%	5.70%	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$15.00/hr	$7.25/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$4.294/gal	$3.365/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	16.36 c/kWh	14.29 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	54.60	52.20	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	51.8°F	54.3°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	95 days	128 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	57,914 sq mi	82,278 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	221.2 per sq mi	35.7 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	December 3, 1818 (#21)	January 29, 1861 (#34)	Details ->

Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	12,812,508	2,937,880	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	221.2 per sq mi	35.7 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	38.3%	35.8%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	15.5%	13.4%	Details ->

Population -> Population Density -> Bachelor's Degree -> Advanced Degree ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$15.00/hr	$7.25/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	54.60	52.20	Details ->
Best State to Live In Composite living score for comparing states to live in, based on the existing livability score.	54.60	52.20	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	95.2	90.2	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$4.294/gal	$3.365/gal	Details ->
Gas Tax State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.	47.00 c/gal	24.00 c/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	16.36 c/kWh	14.29 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	28.1 min	19.1 min	Details ->

Livability Score -> Best State to Live In -> Cost of Living -> Gas Price -> Gas Tax -> Electricity Rates -> Commute Time ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	51.8°F	54.3°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	73.4°F	76.4°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	28.3°F	31.9°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	95 days	128 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	39.2 in	28.9 in	Details ->

Average Temperature -> Summer Temperature -> Winter Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Annual Precipitation ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$247,500	$185,900	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$1,227/mo	$986/mo	Details ->
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households with a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Owner Costs Without Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households without a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Homeownership Rate Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied.	66.5%	66.9%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	3.16x	2.78x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	18.8%	17.7%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	17.8%	17.0%	Details ->

Median Housing Value -> Median Gross Rent -> Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage -> Owner Costs Without Mortgage -> Homeownership Rate -> Home Value to Income Ratio -> Rent to Income Ratio -> Owner Costs to Income ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	4.95%	5.70%	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	6.25%	6.50%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	2.01%	1.29%	Details ->

State Income Tax -> State Sales Tax -> Property Tax ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Solid Blue	Solid Red	Details ->
Presidential Voting Margin Signed 2024 presidential margin in percentage points (positive = Democratic, negative = Republican).	Dem +10.86	Rep +16.02	Details ->
Swing State / Battleground Whether the state was part of the core 2024 battleground map.	Not a battleground	Not a battleground	Details ->
Governor Party Current governor's party (NCSL partisan composition, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Democratic	Details ->
State House Control Current partisan control of the lower legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Republican	Details ->
State Senate Control Current partisan control of the upper legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Republican	Details ->
Trifecta Whether one party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Democratic Trifecta	No Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Gun Laws Status Simplified statewide gun-law label based on current Giffords grades: A to B = Restrictive, C to F = Permissive (scorecard modified February 20, 2026).	Restrictive	Permissive	Details ->
Alcohol Laws Whether the state uses a control-state or license-state model for distilled-spirit sales (NABCA directory accessed April 6, 2026).	License State	License State	Details ->
Marijuana Legalization Current statewide marijuana status: Legal, Medical, or Illegal (NCSL state cannabis laws page updated June 27, 2025).	Legal	Illegal	Details ->
Minimum Marriage Age Minimum marriage age with statutory exceptions. California has no statutory minimum age.	18 (banned)	16	Details ->

Minimum Marriage Age ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	57,914 sq mi	82,278 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Charles Mound (1,235 ft)	Mount Sunflower (4,041 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	December 3, 1818 (#21)	January 29, 1861 (#34)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Springfield	Topeka	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	Midwest	Midwest	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	77.5 yrs	77.0 yrs	Details ->
Older Adult Health Outcomes Composite score for comparing state health outcomes for older adults, using life expectancy, insurance coverage, and obesity prevalence.	61.0	48.1	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	6.2%	8.4%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	34.2%	37.6%	Details ->

Life Expectancy -> Older Adult Health Outcomes -> Uninsured Rate -> Obesity Rate ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	390.5	394.2	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	1847.2	2174.2	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
K-12 Education Rank US News Best States K-12 education sub-ranking (1 = best, 50 = worst).	#22	#23	Details ->
High School Graduation Rate 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for public high schools (NCES).	87.0%	90.0%	Details ->
Student-Teacher Ratio Average number of pupils per teacher in public K-12 schools (NCES).	16.2:1	13.4:1	Details ->

K-12 Education Rank -> High School Graduation Rate -> Student-Teacher Ratio ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$78,433	$66,962	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	97.6	88.9	Details ->
Purchasing Power of $100 Real local value of $100 after adjusting for BEA Regional Price Parities.	$104.29	$113.09	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	11.6%	11.2%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	62.1%	63.2%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	4.6%	3.8%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	0.0%	-0.1%	Details ->

Median Income -> Regional Price Parity -> Purchasing Power of $100 -> Poverty Rate -> Employment/Population Ratio -> Unemployment Rate -> Job Growth ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Hurricane Risk Relative hurricane exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	None	None	Details ->
Tornado Risk Relative tornado exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	High	Very High	Details ->
Earthquake Risk Relative seismic exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Moderate	Moderate	Details ->
Wildfire Risk Relative wildfire exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Moderate	Details ->

Metric	IL	KS	Deep dive
Retirement Score Composite score for comparing states for retirement, combining affordability, taxes, housing, health, safety, and winter climate.	57.3	63.9	Details ->

Retirement Score ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

6 of 19 shown

Saving Money

Kansas is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 90.2 vs 95.2 in Illinois. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Kansas is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.365/gal in Kansas vs $4.294/gal in Illinois. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Minimum Wage

Illinois has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Illinois vs $7.25/hr in Kansas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

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Electricity Rates

Kansas has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 14.29 c/kWh in Kansas vs 16.36 c/kWh in Illinois. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

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Buying a Home

Kansas is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.78x in Kansas vs 3.16x in Illinois. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

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Renting

Kansas is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 17.7% in Kansas vs 18.8% in Illinois. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Explore by Category

Dive Deeper

Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.

Population

Illinois has a larger population than Kansas by 9,874,628 people.

Population Density

Illinois is more densely populated than Kansas.

Bachelor's Degree

Illinois has a higher college-educated share than Kansas.

Advanced Degree

Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than Kansas.

Illinois vs Kansas - Common Questions

Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Kansas?

Kansas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Kansas scores 90.2 versus 95.2 for Illinois - a gap of 5.0 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Kansas?

$100 goes further in Kansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.09 in Kansas, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.

Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Kansas?

Kansas is larger, covering 82,278 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.4x the size.

Q Does Illinois or Kansas have more people?

Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 2,937,880 in Kansas.

Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Kansas?

Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $66,962 in Kansas.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Kansas?

Illinois has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.95%, compared with 5.70% in Kansas.

Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Kansas?

Homes are cheaper in Kansas, where the median home value is $185,900, versus $247,500 in Illinois.

Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Kansas?

Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Kansas is more spread out at 35.7 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Indiana vs Kansas

Iowa vs Kansas

Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.

Illinois vs Kansas

Quality of Life

Key differences overview

Kansas is 5.0 points cheaper overall

$100 goes $8.80 further in Kansas

Illinois income is 17.1% higher

Illinois minimum wage is $7.75 higher

Illinois homes cost about 1.3x more

Illinois has lower state income tax

What's Your Salary Really Worth?

Pros and cons for each state

Illinois

Pros: Illinois

Cons

Kansas

Pros: Kansas

Cons

Full Comparison

Which state fits your priorities better?

Kansas is cheaper overall

Kansas is cheaper at the pump

Illinois has the higher minimum wage

Kansas has cheaper electricity

Kansas is more attainable for buyers

Kansas is easier for renters

Kansas has lower property taxes

Illinois votes bluer

Illinois has a trifecta

Illinois has stricter gun laws

Illinois has broader marijuana access

Illinois has lower income taxes

Kansas feels less crowded

Kansas has the shorter commute

Kansas looks better for job seekers

Illinois looks better for remote workers

Illinois looks better for families

Kansas is warmer overall

Kansas gets more sun

Dive Deeper

Illinois vs Kansas - Common Questions

Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Kansas?

Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Kansas?

Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Kansas?

Q Does Illinois or Kansas have more people?

Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Kansas?

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Kansas?

Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Kansas?

Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Kansas?

Related Comparisons

Methodology