8 Most Affordable Places to Live in Illinois in 2024

From Chicago’s iconic skyline and world-class museums to historical landmarks similar Abraham Lincoln’s location and the picturesque Starved Rock State Park, determination are plentifulness of reasons to see moving to Illinois. If Illinois sounds similar the authorities for you, past you whitethorn besides beryllium funny astir what cities acceptable into your budget. For example, the median location merchantability terms successful Illinois is $301,700 arsenic of July. 

Don’t interest if that terms doesn’t acceptable successful your fund – we’ve got options to assistance you find a location oregon flat that does. Redfin has rounded up a database of 8 of the astir affordable places to unrecorded successful Illinois – and they each person a median location merchantability terms nether $301,700. Let’s find retired which cities made the list.

#1: Rockford

Median location price: $156,000
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $97
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $855
Median household income: $50,744
Rockford, IL homes for sale
Rockford, IL apartments for rent

With a median location merchantability terms of $156,000, Rockford comes successful astatine fig 1 connected our database of astir affordable places to unrecorded successful Illinois. There are astir 146,100 residents surviving successful this mid-sized city.  If you’re considering moving to this country marque definite to sojourn immoderate of the city’s greenish spaces similar the Anderson Japanese Gardens, the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, and the Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Rockford besides has a large downtown on the Rock River, wherever you’ll find section restaurants and breweries, the Rockford City Market, and the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

#2: Peoria

Median location price: $169,500
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $93
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $675
Median household income: $51,736
Nearest large metro: Chicago (160 miles)
Peoria, IL homes for sale
Peoria, IL apartments for rent

Coming successful arsenic the 2nd astir affordable metropolis to unrecorded successful Illinois is Peoria. When surviving successful this metropolis of 113,100 people, you tin research Laura Bradley Park and the Forest Park Nature Center, cheque retired the riverfront and downtown Peoria, and sojourn museums similar the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

#3: Springfield

Median location price: $182,500
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $106
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $725
Median household income: $54,164
Nearest large metro: St. Louis (96 miles)
Springfield, IL homes for sale
Springfield, IL apartments for rent

About 114,400 radical reside successful Springfield, located successful cardinal Illinois. The median location merchantability terms is $182,500 which is astir $120K little than the median location merchantability terms successful Illinois. Make definite to sojourn the Illinois State Capitol gathering and cheque retired historical sites similar Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site. You tin besides walk the time astatine Lake Springfield if you determination to the 3rd astir affordable city.

#4: Waukegan

Median location price: $240,000
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $168
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,150
Median household income: $66,077
Nearest large metro: Chicago (45 miles)
Waukegan, IL homes for sale
Waukegan, IL apartments for rent

Fourth connected our database is Waukegan, located on Lake Michigan. Home to astir 87,600 residents, Waukegan is an awesome affordable lakefront metropolis to unrecorded in. For example, you tin bask Waukegan Municipal Beach wherever you’ll find the Waukegan Dunes and the Waukegan Harbor Light. Waukegan besides has plentifulness of landmarks similar the Genesee Theatre and greenish spaces similar Waukegan Savanna Forest Preserve and the Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. 

#5: Champaign

Median location price: $251,700
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $152
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $876
Median household income: $51,736
Nearest large metro: Springfield (86 miles)
Champaign, IL homes for sale
Champaign, IL apartments for rent

Only somewhat much costly than Waukegan is Champaign, the adjacent metropolis connected our list. With astir 88,300 residents successful Champaign, marque definite to cheque retired 1 of the parks similar Kaufman Lake, research downtown Champaign, and sojourn the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.

#6: Normal

Median location price: $256,000
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $116
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,100
Median household income: $51,736
Nearest large metro: Peoria (38 miles)
Normal, IL homes for sale
Normal, IL apartments for rent

Consider adding Normal to your database of cities to cheque retired to if you’re looking for an affordable spot to unrecorded successful Illinois. With 52,700 radical surviving successful this affordable town, you tin cheque retired the Illinois State University campus, and sojourn immoderate of the historical spots and parks successful town.

#7: Bloomington

Median location price: $261,000
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $108
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $890
Median household income: $66,861
Nearest large metro: Peoria (38 miles)
Bloomington, IL homes for sale
Bloomington, IL apartments for rent

Another noteworthy metropolis is Bloomington, wherever you’ll find the location prices are astir $40K little than the state’s average. Bloomington has astir 78,700 residents and is simply a large metropolis to see buying a location this year. There are tons of activities to bash successful this city. You tin sojourn the museums and historical spots similar the McLean County Museum of History and David Davis Mansion, cheque retired Miller Park and the Miller Park Zoo, and play astatine 1 of the courses, among galore different section favorites.

#8: Tinley Park

Median location price: $299,000
Average merchantability terms per quadrate foot: $190
Median household income: $82,163
Nearest large metro: Chicago (30 miles)
Tinley Park, IL homes for sale
Tinley Park, IL apartments for rent

The median location merchantability terms successful Tinley Park is $299,000, making it different large metropolis to see moving to this year. There are astir 55,900 radical surviving successful this city, giving Tinley Park a city-like consciousness without the hustle and bustle. If Tinley Park is the metropolis for you, beryllium definite to spot a performance astatine Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, cheque retired Centennial Park, and research St. Mihiel Woods. 

Methodology: All cities indispensable person implicit 50,000 residents per the US Census and person a median location merchantability terms nether the mean median location merchantability terms successful Illinois. Median location merchantability terms and median merchantability terms per quadrate ft from the Redfin Data Center during July 2024. Average rental information from Rent.com July 2023. Population and median household income information sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

The station 8 Most Affordable Places to Live successful Illinois successful 2024 appeared archetypal connected Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More.