Illinois
IL • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
54.60
State Comparison
Illinois vs Ohio
Ohio is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Ohio, Illinois has higher incomes, Ohio has lower state income tax, and Illinois gets more sunshine.
Illinois
13
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Ohio
18
/ 31
metrics won
OH wins Housing
OH wins Quality of Life
IL wins Climate
IL wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Illinois
winner
vs
Ohio
Illinois scores higher on quality of life — 2.99 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
Ohio is 4.2 points cheaper overall
Ohio has the lower cost-of-living index. Ohio is at 91.0, while Illinois is at 95.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.62 further in Ohio
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.91 of local buying power in Ohio, 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 $66,990 in Ohio.
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Jobs
Illinois minimum wage is $4.55 higher
Illinois has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $10.45/hr in Ohio.
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Housing
Illinois homes cost about 1.3x more
Ohio has the lower median home value at $196,200, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
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Taxes
Ohio has lower state income tax
Ohio has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 3.75%, compared with 4.95% in Illinois.
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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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Ohio
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 3.8%)
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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 Ohio). 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 health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Illinois education proxy is higher.
- Illinois has more sunny days.
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 job growth trend is weaker.
Ohio
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Ohio
- Ohio has a lower overall cost of living.
- Ohio has a lower housing cost index.
- Ohio has lower median home values.
- Ohio has lower property tax rates on average.
- Ohio has a lower violent crime rate.
- Ohio job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Ohio shows lower median income.
- Ohio health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Ohio education proxy is lower.
- Ohio has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IL
|
OH
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Springfield | Columbus |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
12,812,508
|
11,799,448
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,433
|
$66,990
|
|
Cost of Living
|
95.2
|
91.0
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$247,500
|
$196,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.01%
|
1.31%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.95%
|
3.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$10.45/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.294/gal
|
$3.751/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.36 c/kWh
|
17.59 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
54.60
|
51.61
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.8°F
|
50.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
95 days
|
72 days
|
|
Land Area
|
57,914 sq mi
|
44,826 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
221.2 per sq mi
|
263.2 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 3, 1818 (#21)
|
March 1, 1803 (#17)
|
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
17
shown
Saving Money
Ohio is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.0 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
Ohio is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.751/gal in Ohio 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 $10.45/hr in Ohio. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Illinois has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.36 c/kWh in Illinois vs 17.59 c/kWh in Ohio. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Ohio is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.93x in Ohio 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
Ohio is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.6% in Ohio vs 18.8% in Illinois. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Ohio - Common Questions
Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Ohio?
Ohio has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Ohio scores 91.0 versus 95.2 for Illinois - a gap of 4.2 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Ohio?
$100 goes further in Ohio. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.91 in Ohio, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.
Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Ohio?
Illinois is larger, covering 57,914 sq mi compared with 44,826 sq mi for Ohio - roughly 1.3x the size.
Q Does Illinois or Ohio have more people?
Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 11,799,448 in Ohio.
Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Ohio?
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $66,990 in Ohio.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Ohio?
Ohio has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.75%, compared with 4.95% in Illinois.
Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Ohio?
Homes are cheaper in Ohio, where the median home value is $196,200, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Ohio?
Ohio is more densely populated at 263.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Illinois is more spread out at 221.2 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.