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List of Cities in Illinois: Area, Population and Cost of Living
Illinois is the 6th most populated state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Mississippi River in the west and Indiana in the east.
If you are planning to explore the cities of Illinois, read the write-up below to learn about the population, area, population density, etc., of each of these cities.
Currency – The standard currency is the United States Dollar. As on 10th August 2023, 1 USD is measured at 82.82 INR.
List of Cities in Illinois
There are approximately 102 counties within the states and 1299 municipalities. It includes cities, villages and towns.
Here is a list of the top cities in Illinois with all the necessary information.
Major Cities in Illinois
| Name of the City | Area | Population (Subject to Change) | Cost of Living (Without Rent) |
| Chicago, Cook County | 589.8 km2 | 26,08,425 | $792 (One Person)/ $1503 (Family of Four) |
| Aurora, Du Page and Kane Counties | 116.61 km2 | 1,77,108 | $887 (One Person)/ $2913 (Family of Four) |
| Joliet, Will and Kendall Counties | 167.1 km2 | 1,50,718 | $761 (One Person)/ $2518 (Family of Four) |
| Naperville, DuPage and Will Counties | 101.21 km2 | 1,48,754 | $752 (One Person)/ $2546 (Family of Four) |
| Rockford, Winnebago County | 167.17 km2 | 1,45,716 | $821 (One Person)/ $2346 (Family of Four) |
| Elgin, Cook and Kane Counties | 98.49 km2 | 1,12,504 | $741 (One Person)/ $2482 (Family of Four) |
| Springfield, Sangamon County | 158.35 km2 | 1,11,711 | $989.2 (One Person)/ $3424.9 (Family of Four) |
| Peoria, Peoria County | 124.23 km2 | 1,09,447 | $762 (One Person)/ $2417 (Family of Four) |
| Champaign, Champaign County | 59.38 km2 | 90,522 | $692 (One Person)/ $2410 (Family of Four) |
| Waukegan, Lake County | 62.74 km2 | 87,536 | $782 (One Person)/ $2535 (Family of Four) |
| Bloomington, McLean County | 70.26 km2 | 79,857 | $685 (One Person)/ $2164 (Family of Four) |
| Evanston, Cook County | 20.15 km2 | 75,021 | $763 (One Person)/ $2578 (Family of Four) |
| Decatur, Macon County | 111.09 km2 | 67,942 | $763 (One Person)/ $2387 (Family of Four) |
| Des Plaines, Cook County | 36.88 km2 | 57,409 | $732 (One Person)/ $2541 (Family of Four) |
| Berwyn, Cook County | 10.11 km2 | 53,558 | $898 (One Person)/ $2870 (Family of Four) |
| Wheaton, Du Page County | 29.32 km2 | 52,204 | $729 (One Person)/ $2571 (Family of Four) |
| Elmhurst, Du Page County | 26.46 km2 | 44,687 | $765 (One Person)/ $2554 (Family of Four) |
| Moline, Rock Island | 43.39 km2 | 41,604 | $644 (One Person)/ $2046 (Family of Four) |
| Crystal Lake, McHenry County | 49 km2 | 40,840 | $800 (One Person)/ $2676 (Family of Four) |
Towns in Illinois
| Name of the City | Area | Population (Subject to Change) | Cost of Living (Without Rent) |
| Cicero, Cook County | 15.19 km2 | 79,857 | $842 (One Person)/ $2763 (Family of Four) |
| Normal, Mclean County | 47.39 km2 | 53,632 | $691 (One Person)/ $2222 (Family of Four) |
Villages in Illinois
| Name of the City | Area | Population (Subject to Change) | Cost of Living (Without Rent) |
| Schaumburg, Cook and DuPage County | 49.97 km2 | 74,431 | $722 (One Person)/ $2440 (Family of Four) |
| Arlington Heights, Cook County | 43.01 km2 | 73,320 | $658 (One Person)/ $2270 (Family of Four) |
| Bolingbrook, Will and DuPage Counties | 64.35 km2 | 73,131 | $705 (One Person)/ $2436 (Family of Four) |
| Skokie, Cook County | 26.07 km2 | 63,971 | $745 (One Person)/ $2524 (Family of Four) |
| Palatine, Cook County | 35.22 km2 | 63,858 | $712 (One Person)/ $2403 (Family of Four) |
| Orland Park, Cook County | 57.05 km2 | 56,569 | $760 (One Person)/ $2525 (Family of Four) |
| Oak Lawn, Cook County | 22.2 km2 | 54,920 | $782 (One Person)/ $2613 (Family of Four) |
| Mount Prospect, Cook County | 27.76 km2 | 53,433 | $721 (One Person)/ $2452 (Family of Four) |
| Tinley Park, Cook County | 41.69 km2 | 53,096 | $760 (One Person)/ $2528 (Family of Four) |
| Oak Park, Cook County | 12.17 km2 | 51,102 | $803 (One Person)/ $2646 (Family of Four) |
| Hoffman Estates, Cook County | 54.56 km2 | 49,439 | $732 (One Person)/ $2462 (Family of Four) |
| Downers Grove, DuPage County | 37.93 km2 | 48,723 | $735 (One Person)/ $2437 (Family of Four) |
| Plainfield, Will County | 64.03 km2 | 46,618 | $749 (One Person)/ $2504 (Family of Four) |
| Glenview, Cook County | 36.26 km2 | 46,341 | $731 (One Person)/ $2489 (Family of Four) |
| Lombard, DuPage County | 26.47 km2 | 43,007 | $774 (One Person)/ $2581 (Family of Four) |
| Buffalo Grove, Cook County | 24.77 km2 | 42,144 | $701 (One Person)/ $2379 (Family of Four) |
| Romeoville, Will County | 49.4 km2 | 41,678 | $745 (One Person)/ $2494 (Family of Four) |
| Bartlett, Cook County | 40.73 km2 | 39,507 | $678 (One Person)/ $2195 (Family of Four) |
Disclaimer: The data provided for each city can vary according to the sources and is subject to change with time. The list is for general purpose and contains the names of the most popular cities in Illinois.
Interesting Facts About the Cities in Illinois
The following are some interesting facts about major cities in Illinois:
- Aurora City in Illinois is known as the 'City of Lights'. In 1837 due to the establishment of a post office in this state, it came to be known as Aurora or goddess of dawn. Later as this city was the 1st in the United States to use electric lights for publicly lighting the entire city, it gained the nickname 'City of Lights'.
- Three-quarters of Illinois is farmland. Although this state is home to one of the United States' biggest metropolitans, most of the region is dedicated to farming and agriculture.
- Illinois is home to the largest bakery in the world. Nabisco's bakery plant is about 170,000 square meters. It takes almost 1,200 workers to keep the production chain running every day.
- The largest municipality in Illinois by population is Chicago, with 2,746,388 residents, while the smallest by population is Valley City, with only 14 residents.
- The smallest municipality by land area is Irwin, which spans only 0.045 square miles or 0.12 Km2.
- Cambria is the fastest-growing city in Illinois over the past 3 years. It has grown 13.03% annually since the year 2020.
- Most people know that the nickname of Illinois state is the ‘Land of Lincoln’. However, it's also known as the ‘Prairie State’.
So, now you have an idea about the cities in Illinois. When travelling to any of these cities, it is important to have a travel insurance from a reliable source. Moreover, it is advisable to carry a map along with you whenever you are travelling to this state. In case you need suggestions regarding the best local cuisine, festivals, events or any help, you can approach the locals.
FAQs About the List of of Cities in Illinois
Which cities in Illinois have less than 1000 people?
Multiple cities/municipalities in this state have a very less population. Amongst them, Creal Springs in Williamson County, Grand Tower in Jackson County and Orient in Franklin County is worth mentioning.
Why is Chicago City in Illinois famous?
Chicago is one of the largest cities in the United States. It is located in the northeast region along the Lake Michigan shores. Chicago is a paradise for tourists owing to its famous tourist spots, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower.
How many cities are there in Illinois?
Illinois has a total of 1280 towns and cities. About 7 cities have populations exceeding 100,000, and 192 cities have populations between 10,000 and 100,000 people. Furthermore, the top 10 cities in Illinois by population are Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Cicero, Springfield, Peoria, Elgin, and Waukegan.
Why is Evanston considered one of the most expensive cities to stay in the world?
The average cost of living in Evanston is $2110, and is in the top 13% of the most expensive cities in the world.
Which city of Illinois is safe to travel to?
Elburn is one of the safest cities in Illinois states, with no reported violent crimes in the earlier year. It is located approximately 50 miles west of Chicago.