Best counties to retire to in Illinois
Best counties to retire to in Illinois
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Illinois based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Illinois.
#25. Coles County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 46,689
- Median household income: $56,040
- Median home value: $121,900
- Top places to live: Charleston (B+), Mattoon (B), Seven Hickory Township (B+)
#24. DuPage County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 927,263
- Median household income: $110,502
- Median home value: $374,100
- Top places to live: Naperville (A+), Clarendon Hills (A+), Hinsdale (A+)
#23. Pike County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 14,625
- Median household income: $58,029
- Median home value: $100,100
- Top places to live: Pittsfield (B), Derry Township (B), Hull (B)
#22. Henderson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 6,284
- Median household income: $65,651
- Median home value: $101,600
- Top places to live: Biggsville Township (B), Dallas City (B), Rozetta Township (B)
#21. Mercer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,619
- Median household income: $71,710
- Median home value: $139,300
- Top places to live: Aledo (B), Viola (B), Richland Grove Township (B)
#20. White County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,708
- Median household income: $53,097
- Median home value: $100,100
- Top places to live: Carmi (B-), Hawthorne Township (B+), Phillips Township (B+)
#19. Randolph County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 30,142
- Median household income: $68,870
- Median home value: $134,100
- Top places to live: Red Bud (B+), Sparta (B), Chester (B)
#18. Franklin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 37,541
- Median household income: $53,471
- Median home value: $87,700
- Top places to live: Christopher (B), Benton (B), West Frankfort (B-)
#17. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 264,631
- Median household income: $74,800
- Median home value: $167,900
- Top places to live: Edwardsville (A), Glen Carbon (A), Troy (A)
#16. Jersey County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 21,336
- Median household income: $79,104
- Median home value: $168,800
- Top places to live: Jerseyville (B+), Elsah (A), Grafton (A-)
#15. Saline County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 23,387
- Median household income: $54,945
- Median home value: $92,900
- Top places to live: Harrisburg (B), Eldorado (B-), Mountain Township (B+)
#14. Sangamon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 195,217
- Median household income: $74,114
- Median home value: $170,300
- Top places to live: Leland Grove (A+), Chatham (A), Rochester (A)
#13. Montgomery County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 28,078
- Median household income: $61,863
- Median home value: $102,200
- Top places to live: Litchfield (B+), Hillsboro (B), Nokomis (B-)
#12. Jo Daviess County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 21,918
- Median household income: $74,954
- Median home value: $193,900
- Top places to live: Galena (A), East Dubuque (B+), The Galena Territory (A)
#11. Macoupin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 44,566
- Median household income: $68,518
- Median home value: $126,100
- Top places to live: Carlinville (A-), Staunton (B), Virden (B-)
#10. Macon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 102,591
- Median household income: $62,449
- Median home value: $121,800
- Top places to live: Forsyth (A), Mount Zion (A-), Long Creek (B)
#9. Hancock County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 17,434
- Median household income: $65,044
- Median home value: $108,400
- Top places to live: Carthage (A-), Hamilton (B), Carthage Township (A-)
#8. Clay County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,173
- Median household income: $57,266
- Median home value: $94,300
- Top places to live: Flora (B), Harter Township (B), Pixley Township (B-)
#7. Carroll County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 15,621
- Median household income: $60,871
- Median home value: $113,500
- Top places to live: Savanna (B-), Lanark (A-), Rock Creek-Lima Township (B+)
#6. Stephenson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 44,042
- Median household income: $61,943
- Median home value: $127,500
- Top places to live: Lena (A-), Freeport (B), Rock Run Township (B+)
#5. Edgar County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 16,637
- Median household income: $56,909
- Median home value: $95,700
- Top places to live: Paris (B-), Elbridge Township (B+), Kansas (B+)
#4. Hamilton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 7,972
- Median household income: $61,520
- Median home value: $108,800
- Top places to live: McLeansboro (B+), McLeansboro Township (B+), Twigg Township (B)
#3. Marshall County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,715
- Median household income: $69,818
- Median home value: $137,800
- Top places to live: Saratoga Township (B+), Toluca (B), Bennington Township (B)
#2. Putnam County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 5,600
- Median household income: $77,526
- Median home value: $167,800
- Top places to live: Granville Township (B+), Senachwine Township (B+), Hennepin (B)
#1. Williamson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 66,902
- Median household income: $65,521
- Median home value: $145,600
- Top places to live: Carterville (A), Crainville (A), Energy (A-)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
