State Comparison

Illinois vs Missouri

Missouri is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Missouri, Illinois has higher incomes, and Missouri gets more sunshine.

Illinois

IL • Midwest

Quality of Life Score

54.60

Missouri

MO • Midwest

Overall winner

Quality of Life Score

51.23

Illinois

10 / 29

metrics won

Score

Missouri

19 / 29

metrics won

Wins

MO wins Housing

MO wins Quality of Life

MO wins Climate

IL wins Income

Quality of Life

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

Illinois winner

54.60

Missouri

51.23

Illinois scores higher on quality of life — 3.37 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

Missouri is 5.2 points cheaper overall

Missouri has the lower cost-of-living index. Missouri is at 90.0, while Illinois is at 95.2.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $7.92 further in Missouri

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $112.21 of local buying power in Missouri, versus $104.29 in Illinois.

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Income

Illinois income is 19.0% higher

Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, compared with $65,920 in Missouri.

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Jobs

Missouri has the higher minimum wage

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

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Housing

Illinois homes cost about 1.2x more

Missouri has the lower median home value at $202,500, versus $247,500 in Illinois.

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Taxes

Missouri has lower state income tax

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

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Take-Home Calculator

What's Your Salary Really Worth?

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Illinois

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

Missouri

Gross salary: —
State income tax (top rate 5.0%): —
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, 89.5 for Missouri). 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 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 job growth trend is weaker.
Illinois has fewer sunny days.

Missouri

At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs

Pros: Missouri

Missouri has a lower overall cost of living.
Missouri has a lower housing cost index.
Missouri has lower median home values.
Missouri has lower property tax rates on average.
Missouri job growth trend is stronger.
Missouri has more sunny days.

Cons

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

Full Comparison

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

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Springfield	Jefferson City	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	6,154,913	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$78,433	$65,920	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	95.2	90.0	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$247,500	$202,500	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	2.01%	0.85%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	4.95%	4.95%	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$15.00/hr	$15.00/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$4.294/gal	$3.559/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	16.36 c/kWh	11.80 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	54.60	51.23	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	51.8°F	54.5°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	95 days	115 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	57,914 sq mi	69,707 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	221.2 per sq mi	88.3 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	December 3, 1818 (#21)	August 10, 1821 (#24)	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	MO	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	12,812,508	6,154,913	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	221.2 per sq mi	88.3 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	38.3%	33.2%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	15.5%	13.0%	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	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	$15.00/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	54.60	51.23	Details ->
Best State to Live In Composite living score for comparing states to live in, based on the existing livability score.	54.60	51.23	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	95.2	90.0	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$4.294/gal	$3.559/gal	Details ->
Gas Tax State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.	47.00 c/gal	22.00 c/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	16.36 c/kWh	11.80 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	28.1 min	23.1 min	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	51.8°F	54.5°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	73.4°F	75.4°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	28.3°F	32.3°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	95 days	115 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	39.2 in	42.2 in	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$247,500	$202,500	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$1,227/mo	$980/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%	69.7%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	3.16x	3.07x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	18.8%	17.8%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	17.8%	15.9%	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	MO	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	4.95%	4.95%	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	6.25%	4.22%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	2.01%	0.85%	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	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 +18.35	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	Republican	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	Republican Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	IL	MO	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	Legal	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	MO	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	57,914 sq mi	69,707 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Charles Mound (1,235 ft)	Taum Sauk Mountain (1,772 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	December 3, 1818 (#21)	August 10, 1821 (#24)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Springfield	Jefferson City	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	Midwest	Midwest	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	77.5 yrs	75.5 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	51.6	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	6.2%	7.5%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	34.2%	34.6%	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	390.5	495.2	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	1847.2	2418.0	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
K-12 Education Rank US News Best States K-12 education sub-ranking (1 = best, 50 = worst).	#22	#35	Details ->
High School Graduation Rate 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for public high schools (NCES).	87.0%	91.0%	Details ->
Student-Teacher Ratio Average number of pupils per teacher in public K-12 schools (NCES).	16.2:1	13.8:1	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$78,433	$65,920	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	97.6	89.5	Details ->
Purchasing Power of $100 Real local value of $100 after adjusting for BEA Regional Price Parities.	$104.29	$112.21	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	11.6%	12.0%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	62.1%	61.5%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	4.6%	3.9%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	0.0%	1.8%	Details ->

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

Metric	IL	MO	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	High	Details ->
Earthquake Risk Relative seismic exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Moderate	High	Details ->
Wildfire Risk Relative wildfire exposure based on FEMA National Risk Index (None / Low / Moderate / High / Very High).	Low	Low	Details ->

Metric	IL	MO	Deep dive
Retirement Score Composite score for comparing states for retirement, combining affordability, taxes, housing, health, safety, and winter climate.	57.3	63.7	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 15 shown

Saving Money

Missouri is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 90.0 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

Missouri is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.559/gal in Missouri vs $4.294/gal in Illinois. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Electricity Rates

Missouri has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 11.80 c/kWh in Missouri 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

Missouri is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.07x in Missouri 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

Missouri is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 17.8% in Missouri vs 18.8% in Illinois. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Property Tax

Missouri has lower property taxes

Effective property tax rate: 0.85% in Missouri vs 2.01% in Illinois. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.

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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 Missouri by 6,657,595 people.

Population Density

Illinois is more densely populated than Missouri.

Bachelor's Degree

Illinois has a higher college-educated share than Missouri.

Advanced Degree

Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than Missouri.

Illinois vs Missouri - Common Questions

Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Missouri?

Missouri has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Missouri scores 90.0 versus 95.2 for Illinois - a gap of 5.2 points.

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

$100 goes further in Missouri. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $112.21 in Missouri, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.

Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Missouri?

Missouri is larger, covering 69,707 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.2x the size.

Q Does Illinois or Missouri have more people?

Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 6,154,913 in Missouri.

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

Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $65,920 in Missouri.

Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Missouri?

Homes are cheaper in Missouri, where the median home value is $202,500, versus $247,500 in Illinois.

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

Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Missouri is more spread out at 88.3 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Indiana vs Missouri

Iowa vs Missouri

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 Missouri

Quality of Life

Key differences overview

Missouri is 5.2 points cheaper overall

$100 goes $7.92 further in Missouri

Illinois income is 19.0% higher

Missouri has the higher minimum wage

Illinois homes cost about 1.2x more

Missouri has lower state income tax

What's Your Salary Really Worth?

Pros and cons for each state

Illinois

Pros: Illinois

Cons

Missouri

Pros: Missouri

Cons

Full Comparison

Which state fits your priorities better?

Missouri is cheaper overall

Missouri is cheaper at the pump

Missouri has cheaper electricity

Missouri is more attainable for buyers

Missouri is easier for renters

Missouri has lower property taxes

Illinois votes bluer

Illinois has stricter gun laws

Missouri feels less crowded

Missouri has the shorter commute

Missouri looks better for job seekers

Illinois looks better for remote workers

Illinois looks better for families

Missouri is warmer overall

Missouri gets more sun

Dive Deeper

Illinois vs Missouri - Common Questions

Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Missouri?

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

Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Missouri?

Q Does Illinois or Missouri have more people?

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

Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Missouri?

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

Related Comparisons

Methodology