Three Cities Top List of “Worst” Places to Live in Illinois

Lists like these are never fun, but every year they come out. We do see some changes this year. The great state of Illinois does have some fantastic and beautiful cities, but sadly some are considered incredibly dangerous.

Please not that just because these cities are considered the "worst" by sources like Onlyinyourstate and others, does not mean they are all bad.

The Numbers Behind This

Most lists were created in late 2022 and 2023. We will be using housegrail as our primary source. This source looked at the worst and most dangerous cities in Illinois.

If you are expecting Chicago on this list you'll be surprised not to see it on any top three rankings. This list is judged by the size of the area compared to the number of crimes in said area.

Top Three Worst Cities

3. Aurora, Illinois

Auto thefts and arson are very high in this area, There was also a larger number of assaults at 356. HG went on to report,

Aurora has a disturbing number of violent and non-violent crimes. The latter topped 2,014 in 2019.

Fun fact, Aurora is the state’s second-largest city in the state... yet Illinois has 15 times more people.

2. Springfield, Illinois

The state capital of Illinois has a poverty rate exceeding Illinois’ average. The major crime rate also exceeds the state’s average. Sources reported 

It is only the sixth most populous city in the state yet it sees nearly 10 murders per 100,000 people each year as well as more than 1,000 acts of violent crime per 100,000 people.

1. Rockford, Illinois

Sadly the poverty rate is nearly double the state average. This area has a lot of unlucky stats. The city’s household income is just shy of 68% of the state’s median figure. It is reported that all major violent and non-violent crimes well exceed the state averages.

On the bright side of this city HG had to say,

Rockford is an interesting town. It’s home to many unique cultural attractions, plentiful recreation opportunities, and stunning architecture. It’s the state’s fourth largest city, located about 89 northwest of Chicago.

Do you live in one of these cities? What do you think of it? Let us know on our app.

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