#1Mount Olive Township
Macoupin County · 3,019 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #563 of 767 in IL
Mount Olive Township, #1 on this list · Union Miners Cemetery · Photo: Peter Greenberg · CC BY-SA 3.0Illinois rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Illinois
Mount Olive Township ranks first on cost of living among Illinois’ 768 towns of 2,500+; 159 of the 768 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A+
#2Gillespie
Macoupin County · 3,083 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #508 of 767 in IL
Virden
Macoupin County · 3,149 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.6 years of area income·Overall B · #421 of 767 in IL
All 768 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 12 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
768 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
1Mount Olive TownshipMacoupin County · 3,019 peopleA+1.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #563 of 767
8McLeansboro TownshipHamilton County · 3,611 peopleA+1.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #454 of 767
9Rosewood Heightsunincorporated, Madison County · 4,229 peopleA+2.2 years of area income·Overall A · #111 of 767
17Spring Garden TownshipJefferson County · 2,522 peopleA1.7 years of area income·Overall C · #622 of 767
40Bunker Hill TownshipMacoupin County · 3,086 peopleA2.3 years of area income·Overall B · #383 of 767
48Wood River TownshipMadison County · 29,456 peopleA1.5 years of area income·Overall B+ · #355 of 767
50East Eldorado TownshipSaline County · 5,182 peopleA1.7 years of area income·Overall C · #588 of 767
55Otter Creek TownshipLaSalle County · 2,623 peopleA2.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #529 of 767
69Springfield TownshipSangamon County · 5,485 peopleA1.2 years of area income·Overall C · #609 of 767
78South Litchfield TownshipMontgomery County · 3,222 peopleA1.7 years of area income·Overall B · #447 of 767
79Sugar Loaf TownshipSt. Clair County · 6,601 peopleA−1.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #245 of 767
81Douglas TownshipEffingham County · 12,693 peopleA−2.3 years of area income·Overall A · #104 of 767
96Oregon-Nashua TownshipOgle County · 4,748 peopleA−1.8 years of area income·Overall B+ · #341 of 767
99Mount Pleasant TownshipWhiteside County · 4,638 peopleA−2.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #221 of 767
102Georgetown TownshipVermilion County · 7,100 peopleA−1.6 years of area income·Overall C− · #673 of 767
112Sullivan TownshipMoultrie County · 6,229 peopleA−2.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #285 of 767
116Coloma TownshipWhiteside County · 10,277 peopleA−1.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #545 of 767
118Teutopolis TownshipEffingham County · 2,818 peopleA−3.0 years of area income·Overall A+ · #3 of 767
126Indian Grove TownshipLivingston County · 4,111 peopleA−2.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #187 of 767
127Lawrence TownshipLawrence County · 6,190 peopleA−1.9 years of area income·Overall D · #687 of 767
128Mount Sterling TownshipBrown County · 4,448 peopleA−2.1 years of area income·Overall B · #396 of 767
129Nokomis TownshipMontgomery County · 2,751 peopleA−1.4 years of area income·Overall B · #414 of 767
131Chillicothe TownshipPeoria County · 8,139 peopleA−2.0 years of area income·Overall A · #123 of 767
132Wethersfield TownshipHenry County · 3,695 peopleA−1.5 years of area income·Overall B · #389 of 767
136Centreville TownshipSt. Clair County · 19,067 peopleA−0.7 years of area income·Overall D · #721 of 767
137North Litchfield TownshipMontgomery County · 4,824 peopleA−2.0 years of area income·Overall A− · #283 of 767
138Brighton TownshipMacoupin County · 3,826 peopleA−2.1 years of area income·Overall A− · #216 of 767
145Frankfort TownshipFranklin County · 6,265 peopleA−1.6 years of area income·Overall D · #744 of 767
160Blackhawk TownshipRock Island County · 9,423 peopleB+1.9 years of area income·Overall B− · #494 of 767
171West Point TownshipStephenson County · 3,095 peopleB+2.5 years of area income·Overall A · #125 of 767
173South Rock Island TownshipRock Island County · 18,056 peopleB+1.9 years of area income·Overall C · #603 of 767
180El Paso TownshipWoodford County · 3,376 peopleB+2.3 years of area income·Overall A− · #244 of 767
183Woodside TownshipSangamon County · 11,300 peopleB+1.7 years of area income·Overall B · #372 of 767
192Middleport TownshipIroquois County · 3,603 peopleB+1.6 years of area income·Overall D · #727 of 767
193Dunleith TownshipJo Daviess County · 3,487 peopleB+2.6 years of area income·Overall B · #375 of 767
196Sugar Creek TownshipClinton County · 6,723 peopleB+2.9 years of area income·Overall A · #81 of 767
197Mount Zion TownshipMacon County · 7,018 peopleB+2.9 years of area income·Overall A− · #281 of 767
199Limestone TownshipPeoria County · 18,035 peopleB+2.1 years of area income·Overall B · #367 of 767
200West Lincoln TownshipLogan County · 7,252 peopleB+2.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #338 of 767
203Spring Bay TownshipWoodford County · 2,529 peopleB+1.8 years of area income·Overall B · #415 of 767
206Rock Island TownshipRock Island County · 15,632 peopleB+1.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #671 of 767
209Clear Lake TownshipSangamon County · 8,248 peopleB+2.6 years of area income·Overall B · #370 of 767
210Braceville TownshipGrundy County · 6,617 peopleB+2.5 years of area income·Overall A · #109 of 767
211Harrisburg TownshipSaline County · 9,656 peopleB+1.7 years of area income·Overall D · #710 of 767
227Summit TownshipEffingham County · 3,723 peopleB+4.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #305 of 767
229Bowling TownshipRock Island County · 3,366 peopleB3.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #463 of 767
232Stookey TownshipSt. Clair County · 8,795 peopleB2.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #226 of 767
234South Moline TownshipRock Island County · 36,062 peopleB2.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #524 of 767
240East Lincoln TownshipLogan County · 7,589 peopleB2.2 years of area income·Overall B · #393 of 767
245Moline TownshipRock Island County · 22,531 peopleB1.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #490 of 767
248Collinsville TownshipMadison County · 35,276 peopleB2.4 years of area income·Overall B · #407 of 767
251South Wheatland TownshipMacon County · 3,859 peopleB2.6 years of area income·Overall B · #420 of 767
255Oakwood TownshipVermilion County · 3,048 peopleB2.0 years of area income·Overall C− · #679 of 767
256Groveland TownshipTazewell County · 18,418 peopleB4.3 years of area income·Overall B · #416 of 767
260Montebello TownshipHancock County · 3,189 peopleB2.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #528 of 767
265Mount Morris TownshipOgle County · 3,639 peopleB1.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #453 of 767
270Capital TownshipSangamon County · 111,143 peopleB2.1 years of area income·Overall C · #580 of 767
T271Galesburg City TownshipKnox County · 28,581 peopleB1.7 years of area income·Overall D · #713 of 767
280Hampton TownshipRock Island County · 21,050 peopleB2.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #647 of 767
281Fairview HeightsSt. Clair County · 16,175 peopleB2.5 years of area income·Overall C · #568 of 767
284Elm Grove TownshipTazewell County · 2,938 peopleB3.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #311 of 767
285Looking Glass TownshipClinton County · 6,427 peopleB2.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #242 of 767
293Fondulac TownshipTazewell County · 12,154 peopleB2.3 years of area income·Overall B− · #457 of 767
295West Galena TownshipJo Daviess County · 3,143 peopleB−3.2 years of area income·Overall A · #89 of 767
296Newell TownshipVermilion County · 13,326 peopleB−2.0 years of area income·Overall C− · #626 of 767
T298Macomb City TownshipMcDonough County · 14,530 peopleB−2.0 years of area income·Overall C · #581 of 767
300Hickory Point TownshipMacon County · 17,474 peopleB−2.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #500 of 767
307Catlin TownshipVermilion County · 3,002 peopleB−2.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #483 of 767
T310Bloomington City TownshipMcLean County · 78,804 peopleB−2.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #188 of 767
312Murphysboro TownshipJackson County · 9,333 peopleB−2.2 years of area income·Overall D · #717 of 767
313Fairmontunincorporated, Will County · 2,617 peopleB−2.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #547 of 767
314Long Lakeunincorporated, Lake County · 3,307 peopleB−2.9 years of area income·Overall C+ · #521 of 767
331Peoria City TownshipPeoria County · 95,876 peopleB−1.9 years of area income·Overall C · #623 of 767
334Shiloh TownshipJefferson County · 6,449 peopleB−2.4 years of area income·Overall C− · #678 of 767
338Rockton TownshipWinnebago County · 16,144 peopleB−2.9 years of area income·Overall B+ · #320 of 767
341South Ottawa TownshipLaSalle County · 8,299 peopleB−2.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #648 of 767
342St. Clair TownshipSt. Clair County · 35,372 peopleB−2.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #482 of 767
344Cincinnati TownshipTazewell County · 8,825 peopleB−2.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #517 of 767
349Washington TownshipTazewell County · 24,235 peopleB−2.8 years of area income·Overall A+ · #43 of 767
355Ludlow TownshipChampaign County · 4,076 peopleB−2.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #665 of 767
357Fort Russell TownshipMadison County · 9,158 peopleB−3.1 years of area income·Overall B+ · #306 of 767
359Limestone TownshipKankakee County · 4,961 peopleB−3.4 years of area income·Overall C · #583 of 767
360Long Creek TownshipMacon County · 10,139 peopleB−3.0 years of area income·Overall B · #399 of 767
364Greenwood TownshipMcHenry County · 15,270 peopleB−2.8 years of area income·Overall A− · #273 of 767
365Ingalls Parkunincorporated, Will County · 3,015 peopleC+1.7 years of area income·Overall D · #711 of 767
371Caseyville TownshipSt. Clair County · 34,825 peopleC+1.4 years of area income·Overall B+ · #342 of 767
381Pecatonica TownshipWinnebago County · 4,115 peopleC+2.7 years of area income·Overall B · #374 of 767
384Millstadt TownshipSt. Clair County · 6,490 peopleC+3.1 years of area income·Overall B+ · #363 of 767
388Pistakee Highlandsunincorporated, McHenry County · 3,374 peopleC+2.4 years of area income·Overall B · #392 of 767
394Cherry Valley TownshipWinnebago County · 19,268 peopleC+4.5 years of area income·Overall D · #720 of 767
396Rochester TownshipSangamon County · 5,700 peopleC+3.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #330 of 767
398Chebanse TownshipIroquois County · 2,782 peopleC+3.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #473 of 767
400St. Jacob TownshipMadison County · 2,880 peopleC+3.1 years of area income·Overall A · #162 of 767
404Ridgewoodunincorporated, Will County · 2,795 peopleC+1.8 years of area income·Overall D · #748 of 767
406Winnebago TownshipWinnebago County · 4,965 peopleC+3.0 years of area income·Overall B · #426 of 767
416Green Garden TownshipWill County · 3,851 peopleC+5.6 years of area income·Overall B+ · #328 of 767
419Harlem TownshipWinnebago County · 39,287 peopleC+2.7 years of area income·Overall D · #712 of 767
426Prairie Du Long TownshipSt. Clair County · 2,549 peopleC+4.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #267 of 767
435Yellowhead TownshipKankakee County · 2,549 peopleC+3.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #642 of 767
444St. Joseph TownshipChampaign County · 5,436 peopleC+4.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #288 of 767
T458Cunningham TownshipChampaign County · 39,719 peopleC2.8 years of area income·Overall C · #567 of 767
461Holiday Shoresunincorporated, Madison County · 2,782 peopleC3.1 years of area income·Overall B · #423 of 767
478O'Fallon TownshipSt. Clair County · 26,976 peopleC3.5 years of area income·Overall A · #159 of 767
499Champaign TownshipChampaign County · 11,377 peopleC4.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #280 of 767
504Fancy Creek TownshipSangamon County · 5,806 peopleC4.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #208 of 767
507Northville TownshipLaSalle County · 7,316 peopleC3.8 years of area income·Overall B · #433 of 767
508Edwardsville TownshipMadison County · 40,258 peopleC3.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #248 of 767
510Bloomington TownshipMcLean County · 2,629 peopleC3.7 years of area income·Overall B+ · #331 of 767
518Bourbonnais TownshipKankakee County · 38,541 peopleC3.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #523 of 767
532Frankfort Squareunincorporated, Will County · 9,560 peopleC3.4 years of area income·Overall A− · #255 of 767
534Candlewick Lakeunincorporated, Boone County · 5,448 peopleC2.5 years of area income·Overall D · #685 of 767
541Boulder Hillunincorporated, Kendall County · 8,989 peopleC−2.6 years of area income·Overall C+ · #551 of 767
542Lake Holidayunincorporated, LaSalle County · 5,641 peopleC−3.5 years of area income·Overall B · #418 of 767
551Algonquin TownshipMcHenry County · 89,435 peopleC−3.3 years of area income·Overall A− · #238 of 767
553Lake Villa TownshipLake County · 40,029 peopleC−4.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #334 of 767
555Cortland TownshipDeKalb County · 11,644 peopleC−2.9 years of area income·Overall B− · #460 of 767
558Shiloh Valley TownshipSt. Clair County · 12,737 peopleC−3.4 years of area income·Overall A · #170 of 767
561Roscoe TownshipWinnebago County · 20,256 peopleC−3.6 years of area income·Overall B+ · #315 of 767
564Tolono TownshipChampaign County · 6,256 peopleC−4.1 years of area income·Overall B− · #488 of 767
571Kendall TownshipKendall County · 10,154 peopleC−4.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #308 of 767
573Norwood Park TownshipCook County · 26,584 peopleC−4.2 years of area income·Overall A · #133 of 767
582Somerset TownshipJackson County · 3,940 peopleC−3.8 years of area income·Overall D− · #764 of 767
583Aux Sable TownshipGrundy County · 15,963 peopleC−3.5 years of area income·Overall B · #437 of 767
584Lake in the HillsMcHenry County · 28,590 peopleC−4.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #180 of 767
589Little Rock TownshipKendall County · 14,921 peopleC−2.7 years of area income·Overall C · #569 of 767
592Squaw Grove TownshipDeKalb County · 2,717 peopleC−3.4 years of area income·Overall C · #565 of 767
597Mahomet TownshipChampaign County · 14,687 peopleC−4.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #332 of 767
603Manteno TownshipKankakee County · 11,202 peopleC−3.6 years of area income·Overall B · #409 of 767
T605Champaign City TownshipChampaign County · 91,195 peopleC−3.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #504 of 767
611Na-Au-Say TownshipKendall County · 11,233 peopleC−3.7 years of area income·Overall B · #440 of 767
614Winfield TownshipDuPage County · 46,284 peopleC−5.1 years of area income·Overall B+ · #347 of 767
615Grafton TownshipMcHenry County · 58,301 peopleC−4.0 years of area income·Overall A− · #260 of 767
635Gages Lakeunincorporated, Lake County · 10,819 peopleC−3.7 years of area income·Overall B+ · #310 of 767
644Libertyville TownshipLake County · 54,621 peopleC−5.1 years of area income·Overall A+ · #40 of 767
647Blackberry TownshipKane County · 17,903 peopleC−4.8 years of area income·Overall A− · #259 of 767
674Bloomingdale TownshipDuPage County · 111,039 peopleD4.8 years of area income·Overall A− · #265 of 767
676Scott AFBunincorporated, St. Clair County · 3,957 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #222 of 767
697Downers Grove TownshipDuPage County · 149,599 peopleD5.0 years of area income·Overall A · #82 of 767
718Grandwood Parkunincorporated, Lake County · 5,262 peopleD3.6 years of area income·Overall B+ · #316 of 767
736Naperville TownshipDuPage County · 107,908 peopleD4.4 years of area income·Overall A · #115 of 767
756West Deerfield TownshipLake County · 32,111 peopleD−7.9 years of area income·Overall A · #85 of 767
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Illinois?
Mount Olive Township (Macoupin County) ranks first on cost of living among 768 towns, with an A+; Gillespie and Virden follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (768 in Illinois). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Illinois page.
Go deeper
All Illinois rankings →More Illinois lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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