Illinois
IL • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
54.60
State Comparison
Illinois vs Wisconsin
Illinois is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Wisconsin, Illinois has higher incomes, Illinois has lower state income tax, and Illinois gets more sunshine.
Illinois
13
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Wisconsin
18
/ 31
metrics won
WI wins Housing
WI wins Quality of Life
IL wins Climate
WI wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Illinois
vs
Wisconsin
winner
Wisconsin scores higher on quality of life — 5.06 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 0.3 points cheaper overall
Illinois has the lower cost-of-living index. Illinois is at 95.2, while Wisconsin is at 95.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $4.64 further in Wisconsin
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $108.93 of local buying power in Wisconsin, versus $104.29 in Illinois.
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Income
Illinois income is 9.1% higher
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, compared with $71,887 in Wisconsin.
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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 Wisconsin.
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Housing
Illinois homes cost about 1.0x more
Wisconsin has the lower median home value at $237,300, 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 7.65% in Wisconsin.
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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)
- —
Wisconsin
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.7%)
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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, 93.2 for Wisconsin). 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 has a lower housing cost index.
- Illinois shows higher median income.
- Illinois education proxy is higher.
- Illinois has more sunny days.
Cons
- 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.
- Illinois health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Illinois health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Wisconsin
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Wisconsin
- Wisconsin has lower median home values.
- Wisconsin has lower property tax rates on average.
- Wisconsin has a lower violent crime rate.
- Wisconsin job growth trend is stronger.
- Wisconsin health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Wisconsin health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Wisconsin has a higher overall cost of living.
- Wisconsin has a higher housing cost index.
- Wisconsin shows lower median income.
- Wisconsin education proxy is lower.
- Wisconsin has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IL
|
WI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Springfield | Madison |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Swing State |
|
Population
|
12,812,508
|
5,893,718
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,433
|
$71,887
|
|
Cost of Living
|
95.2
|
95.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$247,500
|
$237,300
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.01%
|
1.42%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.95%
|
7.65%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.294/gal
|
$3.818/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.36 c/kWh
|
18.20 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
54.60
|
59.66
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.8°F
|
43.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
95 days
|
89 days
|
|
Land Area
|
57,914 sq mi
|
65,496 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
221.2 per sq mi
|
90.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 3, 1818 (#21)
|
May 29, 1848 (#30)
|
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
20
shown
Saving Money
Illinois is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 95.2 vs 95.5 in Wisconsin. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Wisconsin is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.818/gal in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin. 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 18.20 c/kWh in Wisconsin. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Illinois is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.16x in Illinois vs 3.30x in Wisconsin. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Wisconsin is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 17.2% in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin by 6,918,790 people.
Population Density
Illinois is more densely populated than Wisconsin.
Bachelor's Degree
Illinois has a higher college-educated share than Wisconsin.
Advanced Degree
Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than Wisconsin.
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Wisconsin - Common Questions
Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Wisconsin?
Illinois has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Illinois scores 95.2 versus 95.5 for Wisconsin - a gap of 0.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Wisconsin?
$100 goes further in Wisconsin. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $108.93 in Wisconsin, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.
Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is larger, covering 65,496 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.1x the size.
Q Does Illinois or Wisconsin have more people?
Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 5,893,718 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Wisconsin?
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $71,887 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Wisconsin?
Illinois has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.95%, compared with 7.65% in Wisconsin.
Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Wisconsin?
Homes are cheaper in Wisconsin, where the median home value is $237,300, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Wisconsin?
Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Wisconsin is more spread out at 90.0 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.