Illinois
IL • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
54.60
State Comparison
Illinois vs North Dakota
Illinois is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in North Dakota, Illinois has higher incomes, North Dakota has lower state income tax, and Illinois gets more sunshine.
Illinois
11
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
North Dakota
20
/ 31
metrics won
ND wins Housing
ND wins Quality of Life
IL wins Climate
ND wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Illinois
vs
North Dakota
winner
North Dakota scores higher on quality of life — 0.03 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
Illinois is 3.9 points cheaper overall
Illinois has the lower cost-of-living index. Illinois is at 95.2, while North Dakota is at 99.1.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $6.41 further in North Dakota
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $110.70 of local buying power in North Dakota, versus $104.29 in Illinois.
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Income
Illinois income is 6.0% higher
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, compared with $73,959 in North Dakota.
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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 North Dakota.
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Housing
Illinois homes cost about 1.1x more
North Dakota has the lower median home value at $220,600, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
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Taxes
North Dakota has lower state income tax
North Dakota has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 2.50%, compared with 4.95% in Illinois.
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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
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
North Dakota
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 2.5%)
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- After state tax
- —
- 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, 91.0 for North Dakota). 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 has a lower overall cost of living.
- Illinois shows higher median income.
- Illinois education proxy is higher.
- Illinois has more sunny days.
Cons
- 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.
- Illinois health coverage access proxy is weaker.
North Dakota
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: North Dakota
- North Dakota has a lower housing cost index.
- North Dakota has lower median home values.
- North Dakota has lower property tax rates on average.
- North Dakota has a lower violent crime rate.
- North Dakota health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- North Dakota health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- North Dakota has a higher overall cost of living.
- North Dakota shows lower median income.
- North Dakota education proxy is lower.
- North Dakota has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IL
|
ND
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Springfield | Bismarck |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
12,812,508
|
779,094
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,433
|
$73,959
|
|
Cost of Living
|
95.2
|
99.1
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$247,500
|
$220,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.01%
|
0.99%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.95%
|
2.50%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.294/gal
|
$3.451/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.36 c/kWh
|
10.92 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
54.60
|
54.63
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.8°F
|
40.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
95 days
|
93 days
|
|
Land Area
|
57,914 sq mi
|
70,698 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
221.2 per sq mi
|
11.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 3, 1818 (#21)
|
November 2, 1889 (#39)
|
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
Illinois is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 95.2 vs 99.1 in North Dakota. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
North Dakota is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.451/gal in North Dakota 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 North Dakota. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
North Dakota has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 10.92 c/kWh in North Dakota 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
North Dakota is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.98x in North Dakota 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
North Dakota is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 15.2% in North Dakota vs 18.8% in Illinois. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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 North Dakota by 12,033,414 people.
Population Density
Illinois is more densely populated than North Dakota.
Bachelor's Degree
Illinois has a higher college-educated share than North Dakota.
Advanced Degree
Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than North Dakota.
People Also Ask
Illinois vs North Dakota - Common Questions
Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than North Dakota?
Illinois has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Illinois scores 95.2 versus 99.1 for North Dakota - a gap of 3.9 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or North Dakota?
$100 goes further in North Dakota. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $110.70 in North Dakota, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.
Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or North Dakota?
North Dakota is larger, covering 70,698 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.2x the size.
Q Does Illinois or North Dakota have more people?
Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 779,094 in North Dakota.
Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or North Dakota?
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $73,959 in North Dakota.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or North Dakota?
North Dakota has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 4.95% in Illinois.
Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or North Dakota?
Homes are cheaper in North Dakota, where the median home value is $220,600, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or North Dakota?
Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. North Dakota is more spread out at 11.0 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.