Smart Movers Club

    Illinois county rankings

    Best counties in Illinois to live

    We scored 97 counties with 5,000+ residents on home affordability, unemployment, education, population growth and total crime per 100,000 people.

    #CountyScoreHome valueIncomeUnemploymentCrime /100k
    1Monroe County79$265,600$101,6352.1%198
    2Moultrie County75$121,500$71,6762.6%192
    3Piatt County75$173,200$87,5163.3%560
    4Jo Daviess County73$193,900$74,9543.0%304
    5Carroll County72$113,500$60,8714.3%234
    6Cumberland County72$117,700$69,8262.4%168
    7Clinton County71$180,500$82,3143.3%316
    8Brown County70$142,200$72,2882.2%16
    9Hancock County70$108,400$65,0444.4%98
    10Woodford County70$193,800$85,6293.0%—
    11Kendall County69$298,900$110,4743.6%539
    12Putnam County68$167,800$77,5263.4%185
    13Douglas County65$142,600$74,1863.1%923
    14Johnson County64$148,200$65,2032.4%345
    15Stark County64$103,500$62,2843.1%390

    Also see: Where to move in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023); FBI Crime Data Explorer county agency totals. "—" means no reporting data.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report on Illinois