Top 10 Worst Places To Live In Illinois In 2025

Top 10 Worst Places to Live In Illinois . Top 10 Worst Cities In Illinois to Live, Raise a Family, Job or Retire. Top 10 Worst Towns in Illinois. Top 10 Worst Villages in Illinois. If you’re thinking about a move to Illinois, here are the places you should avoid to live, retire or raise a family. 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois You Should Never Move To. Top 10 Worst Cities To Live In North Carolina. 10 Places in Illinois You Should NEVER Move To.

Top 10 Worst Places To Live In Illinois

1. Centreville
2. Carbondale
3. Harvey
4. Rockford
5. East St. Louis
6. Pekin
7. Evanston
8. Danville
9. Kankakee
10. Springfield 

1. Centreville

Centreville was ranked the poorest town in Illinois with high poverty rates and financial hardships. With a population of 5,094, Centreville recorded a median household income of $17,441 annually, based on 2017 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Centreville’s poverty rate was pegged at 48.1 percent, and its median home value came in at  $47,900.

Centreville, Illinois, is tucked between an airport, rail lines and interstates in the Metro East.

2. Carbondale

Carbondale is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 25400 residents. Carbondale ranks 6th in unemployment, 2nd in poverty and 2nd in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The poverty rate of Carbondale is 39.6%, which is 182.86% higher than national average. The typical household in Carbondale earns $24093 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 4 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 72.5% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate. Nearly one in every 1 in every 9 workers in Carbondale is unemployed. The high jobless rate has likely contributed to the widespread poverty in the city.

The unemployment rate of Carbondale remained 10.8%, which is 129.79% higher than national rate. While median income in Carbondale remained $24093, which is 64.31% lower than national average.

Population : 25400
Unemployment Rate : 10.8%
Poverty : 39.6%
Median Home Value : $122700
Median Home Income : $24093
Overall Score : 5/10

3. Harvey

Harvey is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 24295 residents. Harvey ranks 1st in unemployment, 3rd in poverty and 3rd in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The poverty rate of Harvey is 31.1%, which is 122.14% higher than national average. The typical household in Harvey earns $32635 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 6 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 64.7% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate. Nearly one in every 1 in every 7 workers in Harvey is unemployed. The high jobless rate has likely contributed to the widespread poverty in the city.

The unemployment rate of Harvey remained 14.6%, which is 210.64% higher than national rate. While median income in Harvey remained $32635, which is 51.65% lower than national average.


Population : 24295
Unemployment Rate : 14.6%
Poverty : 31.1%
Median Home Value : $72600
Median Home Income : $32635
Overall Score : 4/10

4. Rockford

Rockford is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 147441 residents. Rockford ranks 1st in overall crime, 1st in violent crime and 1st in property crime in the state. City also ranks 8th in unemployment, 12th in poverty and 11th in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The overall crime rate in city is 82.67% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 273.97% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 44.76% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 70 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 36 chance of being victim of property crime.

The poverty rate of Rockford is 21.8%, which is 55.71% higher than national average. The typical household in Rockford earns $44771 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 5 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 11 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 55% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The unemployment rate of Rockford remained 9.6%, which is 104.26% higher than national rate. While median income in Rockford remained $44771, which is 33.67% lower than national average.


Population : 147441
Unemployment Rate : 9.6%
Poverty : 21.8%
Median Home Value : $95200
Median Home Income : $44771
Overall Score : 4/10

5. East St. Louis

East St. Louis is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 26359 residents. East St. Louis ranks 3rd in unemployment, 3rd in poverty and 1st in lowest median income in the Illinois. City also ranks 3rd in overall crime, 2nd in violent crime and 6th in property crime in the state.

The poverty rate of East St. Louis is 30.6%, which is 118.57% higher than national average. The typical household in East St. Louis earns $24009 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 5 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 73.7% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate. Nearly one in every 1 in every 8 workers in East St. Louis is unemployed. The high jobless rate has likely contributed to the widespread poverty in the city.

The unemployment rate of East St. Louis remained 13.2%, which is 180.85% higher than national rate. While median income in East St. Louis remained $24009, which is 64.43% lower than national average.

The overall crime rate in city is 10.79% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 162.86% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 19.34% lower than national average. Residents have 1 in 98 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 64 chance of being victim of property crime.


Population : 26359
Unemployment Rate : 13.2%
Poverty : 30.6%
Median Home Value : $53900
Median Home Income : $24009
Overall Score : 3/10

6. Pekin

Pekin is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 32796 residents. Pekin ranks 4th in overall crime, 4th in violent crime and 5th in property crime in the state. City also ranks 27th in unemployment, 25th in poverty and 18th in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The poverty rate of Pekin is 15.5%, which is 10.71% higher than national average. The typical household in Pekin earns $50552 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

The unemployment rate of Pekin remained 5.5%, which is 17.02% higher than national rate. While median income in Pekin remained $50552, which is 25.11% lower than national average.

The overall crime rate in city is 0.2% lower than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 6.21% higher than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 1.47% lower than national average. Residents have 1 in 248 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 53 chance of being victim of property crime.

Population : 32796
Unemployment Rate : 5.5%
Poverty : 15.5%
Median Home Value : $104000
Median Home Income : $50552
Overall Score : 5/10

7. Evanston

Evanston is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 73979 residents. Evanston ranks 2nd in overall crime, 9th in violent crime and 2nd in property crime in the state. City also ranks 31st in unemployment, 37th in poverty and 59th in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The overall crime rate in city is 18.12% higher than national average. The violent crime rate in city is 59.97% lower than national average. While the property crime rate of city is 33.6% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 643 chance of being victim of violent crime. Folks have 1 in 38 chance of being victim of property crime.

The unemployment rate of Evanston remained 5%, which is 6.38% higher than national rate.

Population : 73979
Unemployment Rate : 5%
Poverty : 11.7%
Median Home Value : $409900
Median Home Income : $82335
Overall Score : 7.5/10

8. Danville

Danville is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 30969 residents. Danville ranks 18th in unemployment, 4th in poverty and 6th in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The poverty rate of Danville is 29.6%, which is 111.43% higher than national average. The typical household in Danville earns $37328 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 8 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 60.4% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The unemployment rate of Danville remained 6.8%, which is 44.68% higher than national rate. While median income in Danville remained $37328, which is 44.7% lower than national average.

Population : 30969
Unemployment Rate : 6.8%
Poverty : 29.6%
Median Home Value : $67200
Median Home Income : $37328
Overall Score : 5/10

9. Kankakee

Kankakee is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 25818 residents. Kankakee ranks 13th in unemployment, 6th in poverty and 7th in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The poverty rate of Kankakee is 27.5%, which is 96.43% higher than national average. The typical household in Kankakee earns $38763 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line, well above the national poverty rate of 14.1%.

Additionally, more than 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Nationwide, 5.8% of households do. Nearly 58.8% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate.

The unemployment rate of Kankakee remained 8.1%, which is 72.34% higher than national rate. While median income in Kankakee remained $38763, which is 42.57% lower than national average.


Population : 25818
Unemployment Rate : 8.1%
Poverty : 27.5%
Median Home Value : $87000
Median Home Income : $38763
Overall Score : 4/10

10. Springfield

Springfield is a city in Illinois State in USA with a population of 115075 residents. Springfield ranks 23rd in unemployment, 21st in poverty and 27th in lowest median income in the Illinois.

The poverty rate of Springfield is 17.9%, which is 27.86% higher than national average. The typical household in Springfield earns $54164 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

The unemployment rate of Springfield remained 6%, which is 27.66% higher than national rate. While median income in Springfield remained $54164, which is 19.76% lower than national average.


Population : 115075
Unemployment Rate : 6%
Poverty : 17.9%
Median Home Value : $131300
Median Home Income : $54164
Overall Score : 6/10

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