Illinois Living Report — July 11, 2026

Illinois presents a study in contrasts—a state where the glittering skyline of Chicago anchors a vast landscape of farmland, small cities, and leafy suburbs. With a population of 12,757,634, it remains the sixth-most populous state, but its demographic profile reveals a place that is slowly graying: the median age sits at 38.7, right at the national average. For anyone considering a move, the question is whether Illinois delivers value without sacrificing opportunity.

On the housing front, affordability is a genuine draw. The median one-bedroom apartment rents for $1,179 per month, while median home values hover around $239,100. That puts homeownership within reach for many—especially when weighed against the median household income of $78,433 per year. A quick affordability analysis shows that rent consumes roughly 18 percent of gross monthly income for the typical household, well below the 30 percent threshold that signals cost burden. Even for renters earning less than

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Data: US Census Bureau ACS 2022, BLS. Updated July 11, 2026.

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