Hundreds of Thousands of Illinoisans Are Moving Out, and These Are the States They’re Choosing
Illinois has a lot going for it. Chicago is one of the great American cities, with world-class museums, restaurants, sports teams and a famous skyline along Lake Michigan. Beyond the city, the state offers small towns, rich farmland and a central location that puts much of the Midwest within an easy drive.
Yet for years, Illinois has been known as a state people leave. Each year, hundreds of thousands of residents pack up and move somewhere else, and more people move out to other states than move in. The latest federal data shows where they’re heading, and the answers may surprise anyone who assumes every former Illinoisan ends up in Florida.
How Many People Left Illinois
The most recent state-to-state migration tables from the U.S. Census Bureau are based on the 2024 American Community Survey. They estimate that about 282,800 people who lived in Illinois a year earlier had moved to another state in 2024. The Census Bureau’s migration flows tables put the margin of error at about 13,000 either way.
People also move into Illinois, of course. The same survey estimates that about 200,300 people moved to Illinois from other states that year. That means the state lost roughly 82,500 more residents to other states than it gained from them in 2024.
Put another way, about 2 of every 90 people who lived in Illinois at the start of the period had moved to another state a year later. By the Census Bureau’s estimates, only California and New York lost more residents to the rest of the country on a net basis. The numbers come from survey estimates, so they’re best viewed as a reliable picture of the trend rather than an exact headcount.
Indiana Tops the List
The single most popular destination for people leaving Illinois was right next door. The Census Bureau estimates about 25,700 Illinois residents moved to Indiana in 2024. Many of them likely didn’t go far, settling in northwest Indiana communities within commuting distance of Chicago.
Indiana offers lower housing costs and a lower state income tax rate, while still keeping people close to family, friends and jobs in the Chicago area. For many households, crossing the state line is a way to cut costs without changing their whole lives. The move can be as simple as relocating a few miles east.
Florida, Wisconsin and Texas Are Close Behind
Florida came in second, with about 24,400 Illinoisans moving there in 2024. Warm weather, beaches and no state income tax have long made Florida a favorite for Midwestern retirees and snowbirds. Many people who wintered there for years eventually make it their permanent home.
Wisconsin was a close third, with about 24,000 people moving north from Illinois. Texas followed with about 23,500. The margins of error for these estimates are several thousand people, so the top four destinations are statistically very close to one another.
The Rest of the Top 10
California drew about 20,000 people from Illinois in 2024, followed by Missouri with about 18,400. Missouri’s total likely includes many families moving across the Mississippi River within the St. Louis metro area. Michigan ranked seventh, with about 12,500 people.
Rounding out the top 10 were Tennessee with about 10,900, Iowa with about 10,700 and Arizona with about 9,400. Ohio and New York each drew several thousand more. The list shows that many people leaving Illinois stay in the Midwest, while others head for warmer, lower-cost states in the South and West.
What Tax Returns Show
IRS data tells a similar story and also tracks how much income moves with people. The IRS migration data for 2022 to 2023, the latest available, shows that tax returns representing about 233,800 people moved from Illinois to other states. Those households reported about $15.2 billion in adjusted gross income.
Returns representing about 179,600 people moved into Illinois from other states, with about $9.2 billion in income. That left Illinois with a net loss of roughly $6 billion in adjusted gross income in a single year. Florida was the top destination by income, with about $3.3 billion leaving Illinois for the Sunshine State.
The Population Picture Is More Complicated
Despite the steady flow of people leaving, Illinois’ population has actually grown slightly in recent years. The Census Bureau’s population estimates put Illinois at about 12.72 million people on July 1, 2025, up about 16,000 from the year before. That followed population losses earlier in the decade.
The reason is international migration. Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, the Census Bureau estimates Illinois lost about 40,000 people through domestic migration but gained about 44,800 from abroad. Domestic losses have also eased considerably since peaking at nearly 150,000 in the year ending July 2022.
Moving Companies See a Shift
Moving company data suggests the outflow may be slowing. United Van Lines’ movers study for 2025 found that, for the first time in more than a decade, Illinois was a balanced state rather than appearing on its list of top outbound states. Illinois had ranked among the top outbound states in earlier studies.
The same study found that Americans who moved across state lines most often did so to be closer to family, for a new job or company transfer, or for retirement. Those reasons apply to many Illinois households as well. Still, the federal data shows that more people continue to leave Illinois for other states than arrive from them.
Why People Are Leaving
Taxes are one of the most common reasons people give for leaving Illinois, and property taxes in particular. The Tax Foundation reports that Illinois has the second-highest effective property tax rate in the country, behind only New Jersey. For homeowners on fixed incomes, those yearly bills can be a heavy burden.
Illinois also has a flat income tax rate of 4.95%, which has been in effect since July 2017. Florida and Texas have no state income tax at all. Illinois ranks among the tax burden states many families find hardest to manage, and cold, gray winters push many others toward the Sun Belt.
Retirees Are Part of the Trend
Many of the people leaving Illinois are retirees. After decades in the Chicago suburbs or downstate towns, they sell their homes and move somewhere warmer or closer to grandchildren. Florida, Arizona and Tennessee are especially popular with older movers.
It’s worth noting that Illinois doesn’t tax most retirement income, including Social Security and qualified pension income. That helps some retirees stay, but high property taxes can outweigh that benefit for homeowners. Retirees weighing a move often compare the full cost of living, including housing, insurance and health care, before deciding.
Thinking About Making a Move?
Moving to another state is a major decision, and it’s worth doing the homework first. Visiting during different seasons, comparing tax bills and looking at health care options can help avoid surprises. A moving checklist can make the process less stressful once you decide to go.
Illinois isn’t alone in watching residents leave. Texas has seen its own outflow, and there’s a similar pattern in the states Texans are choosing. Have you or someone you know moved out of Illinois, and where did you end up?
