Illinois
IL • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
54.60
State Comparison
Illinois vs Nebraska
Nebraska is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Nebraska, Illinois has higher incomes, Illinois has lower state income tax, and Nebraska gets more sunshine.
Illinois
9
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Nebraska
21
/ 30
metrics won
NE wins Housing
NE wins Quality of Life
IL wins Climate
NE wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Illinois
winner
vs
Nebraska
Illinois scores higher on quality of life — 1.71 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
Nebraska is 3.5 points cheaper overall
Nebraska has the lower cost-of-living index. Nebraska is at 91.7, while Illinois is at 95.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $6.93 further in Nebraska
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.22 of local buying power in Nebraska, versus $104.29 in Illinois.
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Income
Illinois income is 9.3% higher
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, compared with $71,772 in Nebraska.
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Jobs
Nebraska has the higher minimum wage
Nebraska 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
Nebraska has the lower median home value at $211,000, 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 5.84% in Nebraska.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Illinois
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Nebraska
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.8%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "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, 91.1 for Nebraska). 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 job growth trend 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 a higher violent crime rate.
- Illinois health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Nebraska
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Nebraska
- Nebraska has a lower overall cost of living.
- Nebraska has a lower housing cost index.
- Nebraska has lower median home values.
- Nebraska has lower property tax rates on average.
- Nebraska has a lower violent crime rate.
- Nebraska health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Nebraska shows lower median income.
- Nebraska job growth trend is weaker.
- Nebraska education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IL
|
NE
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Springfield | Lincoln |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
12,812,508
|
1,961,504
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,433
|
$71,772
|
|
Cost of Living
|
95.2
|
91.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$247,500
|
$211,000
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.01%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.95%
|
5.84%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.294/gal
|
$3.482/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.36 c/kWh
|
11.76 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
54.60
|
52.89
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.8°F
|
48.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
95 days
|
117 days
|
|
Land Area
|
57,914 sq mi
|
77,358 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
221.2 per sq mi
|
25.4 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 3, 1818 (#21)
|
March 1, 1867 (#37)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Nebraska is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.7 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
Nebraska is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.482/gal in Nebraska vs $4.294/gal in Illinois. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Nebraska has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 11.76 c/kWh in Nebraska 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
Nebraska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.94x in Nebraska 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
Nebraska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 16.5% in Nebraska 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
Nebraska has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.49% in Nebraska vs 2.01% in Illinois. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full dataExplore 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 Nebraska by 10,851,004 people.
Population Density
Illinois is more densely populated than Nebraska.
Bachelor's Degree
Illinois has a higher college-educated share than Nebraska.
Advanced Degree
Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than Nebraska.
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Nebraska - Common Questions
Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Nebraska?
Nebraska has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Nebraska scores 91.7 versus 95.2 for Illinois - a gap of 3.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Nebraska?
$100 goes further in Nebraska. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.22 in Nebraska, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.
Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Nebraska?
Nebraska is larger, covering 77,358 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Illinois or Nebraska have more people?
Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 1,961,504 in Nebraska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Nebraska?
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $71,772 in Nebraska.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Nebraska?
Illinois has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.95%, compared with 5.84% in Nebraska.
Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Nebraska?
Homes are cheaper in Nebraska, where the median home value is $211,000, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Nebraska?
Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Nebraska is more spread out at 25.4 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
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.