By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
Fresh estimate data released by the Census Bureau Thursday shows the continued loss of Illinoisans due to domestic out-migration: Illinois netted a loss of 93,247 residents to other states in 2023. Those losses are on top of the net 116,000 and 141,000 Illinoisans who fled in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
203,758 residents moved into Illinois from other states, while 297,005 Illinoisans left for other states, resulting in the net loss of the 93,247 residents.
Illinois’ losses were the nation’s third-worst, only behind California and New York with net losses of 268,052 and 178,709, respectively.
Unsurprisingly, Texas and Florida were the two big net winners, gaining 133,372 and 126,008, respectively.
Illinois’ out-migration numbers compare poorly to its neighbors. Indiana had a net gain of nearly 30,000 residents in 2023, the 7th-best intake in the country. Wisconsin and Kentucky both had a net intake of about 14,000 residents. Missouri gained 8,100 net domestic migrants, while Iowa ended up with a net decline of about 1,900 people.
The only neighbor to suffer major losses was Michigan, with net out-migration totaling over 20,000 in 2023.
The new Census data also shows which states Illinoisans moved to, and from, across the country.
Illinois was a net loser of residents to 36 different states in 2023, resulting in a net out-migration of 103,000 residents. On the flip side, Illinois was a net winner of residents from just 13 states, with a net in-migration totaling just 8,600 residents.
In a surprise compared to earlier years, Indiana, not Florida, was Illinoisans’ go-to destination in 2023. Nearly 17,900 net residents relocated from Illinois to The Hoosier State. Another 12,800 net residents moved to Wisconsin. Texas (8,954), Florida (8,009) and Tennessee (5,583) rounded out the top 5 destination states for Illinoisans.
Those outmigration losses to our neighbors help debunk the tired excuse of cold weather as the reason Illinois consistently loses people. The state’s large losses are about more than just the cold. Our other reporting shows that people of all demographics are leaving. Wealthy millennials. The highly educated. The young and old, rich and poor.
The 2023 Census data reiterates the fact that Illinoisans are voting with their feet.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Illinois’ rich, young residents join the exodus to other states
- Illinois’ Gov. Pritzker delivers Democrats’ national economic pitch at DNC. A look at his own record is revealing.
- Illinois drives out residents of every age and income group
- Illinois’ out-migration losses: Measuring the destructive impact on the state’s tax base
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
So much fun. No problem there. Illinois is perfect. Keep it that way. Your neighboring states thank you.
Whatever numbers you choose to believe, the fact is that after every 10 year census, IL loses at least one congressional seat since 1930. Less house seats, less electoral college votes, less clout in the House to return money to IL. Maybe the losses aren’t great as Pritzker says, but IL is not growing as fast as other states and IRS and AGR statistics show that IL is losing tons of revenue to other states. Those IRS numbers are undeniable.
While Illinois has lost a little over1 electoral vote per census since 1940, it’s not because of population decline. In 2020 Illinois had 60% more people than in 1940, but many other states like Texas and California have grown quicker than Illinois. The only 2 times Illinois population declined since 1900 is the Spanish flu of 1918 and a couple of years during WWII. The 2020 census decline is the 3rd time and was much smaller than the U.S. Census Bureau had estimated,18k versus an estimate of 163k.
You will note that I said IL is not growing as fast as other states. So why do people choose to live in states other than IL? Especially since Pritzker and the Dems keep extolling all the advantages IL provides. If you don’t know why, I can list about 20 reasons why.
I’ll give the 3 biggest reasons Illinois isn’t growing as fast as other states: Texas, California, and Florida. Since 1940 Texas has grown 350%, California 470%, and Florida over 1000%. Whatever they have in common, and it’s not politics, is why states like Illinois haven’t grown as quickly. Since 1940, New York has grown 49% and Pennsylvania 24%. Over the last 80 years people have liked the south and west coast more than the mid-west and northeast. To put that all in perspective, the U.S. has grown about 150% in the last 80 years. And yes, you did mention Illinois… Read more »
All you quoted was the three states that grew the fastest, not the reasons why people choose to live there instead. Take CA out of the mix, too, it has also lost House seats. Interesting, too, from the 2023 chart, is that the top two states IL lost residents to were IN and WI, so it’s not the weather.
The reason Illinois has lost 12 congressional seats since 1940 is that Illinois has grown slower than the nation. While California lost a house seat it added 2 million people in the last census. It too grew slower than the rest of the nation. The reasons California, Texas, and Florida are the most populous and fastest growing states are as varied as the 80 million people who live there but I’m guessing climate and opportunity are two of the biggest reasons. I don’t doubt Illinois is losing population, as is California, but I don’t take too much stock in the… Read more »
Dollars to donuts only increases are non-White (overwhelmingly Mexicans, Central Americans and Asians). Of course a lot of illegals. Whites continue to leave.
Moving is difficult with 7% interest rates and unaffordable home prices throughout most of the country. Moving out of state was supposed to be cheaper and save you money, but now it’s more expensive to live in the suburbs of Salt Lake City or Nashville than it is to live in Lake or DuPage county, even with the taxes, because the home prices have increased so much in those desirable areas. That extra $150k you’re paying for the ranch Franklin county, after mortgage interest, is going to take years to break even. And furthermore, the state has only become so… Read more »
On top of the financial points you make do not forget the level of effort it takes to move. Not the hauling of big box items, that’s what movers are for. I am specifically mentioning decision of what to donate, if it can be donated and what to toss to the curb. Two things… If you ever intend to move it is never too early to start the cleanup. The second thing is to do the research on where you want to move. All the way down to the local level (government, health care). And by all means take the… Read more »
Friend took a $40k loss on his home to get out to NC 5 years ago – has already recovered all that and then some through tax savings and appreciation. He did downsize to a planned +55 community. Plus the quality of life is better.
My mother did the same to the mountains of NC in Brevard. She broke even on her home in northern Cook County and the savings were substantial and immediate.The quality of life was far better although there were some concerns over health care.
Medical care is great in Illinois, if your insurance pays for care in the fancier, higher end hospital systems. Otherwise, you’re stuck in line waiting for care with the rest of the illegals, uninsured, and medicaid patients, and few top quality medical professionals care to work in crappiest hospitals. Not sure how it is elsewhere in the country, but god help you if you’re seeking care at a barely solvent medicaid hospital.
Why the downvote? Do plain facts bother you?
Down votes can also mean they do not agree with all or just part of your comment. I am guilty of making more than one point in the same comment so they may agree with only one but disagree with the other point. I wish they would explain what part of a statement they disagree with but they don’t have to down vote.
Five years ago is the timing you talk about in your comment. post-covid prices have shot up exponentially in many areas of the country, except here.
While appreciation is good as a home owner, it’s terrible as a home buyer, and it’s *always* a bad thing when the locals can’t afford to buy homes because housing is too expensive.
Look at home values in Boulder. Click on any home and check out past sales of that home. The values 20-30 years ago were close to what they were here in Belvidere and Rockford and are now 7 times higher or more. Tax rates are at .53% or total value. These prices in the link are shock and awe. Home values here are not much better than 20 years except the last few years they are up a little because of very low inventory. With the meager equity I have and little to no appreciation places to move are slim… Read more »
We love you here, Freddy!
Who would downvote this comment?? And there are 2 of them.
All I can say is that it’s my strong belief that the number of truly nasty people is far greater on the left than the right. Sure, there are some on the right, but the frequency of people who are simply vile is conspicuously on the left. Dem candidate Marianne Williamson admitted as much, saying, “You know, I’m such a lefty. I mean, I’m a serious lefty, but they’re so … I didn’t think the Left was as mean as the Right, [but] they are.”
You might check out https://www.reventure.app/, the free account will give some useful info. He also has a Youtube channel. Avoid Nashville/Davidson like the plague it is. The fact they have a Democrat mayor tells you all you need to know. Franklin is nice, I got up to a family of 7 deer this morning, and went to Huntsville yesterday. Very nice taking back road and seeing all the cotton fields. You get a LOT for your money and the mountain roads are great if you have a sports car.
Franklin County that is.
The pensioners that move are most likely to be a professor, a teachers or a former governor.
Your reasoning?
I would love to know what percentage of this outmigration is retired State of Illinois pensioners.
Of what practical value is that? All it will do is raise your blood pressure. Retirees are going to live where they choose to live, and as long as other factors don’t come into play the government can’t stop or hinder them in doing so.
Is your implicit point that the people leaving make considerably more income than the people arriving, and that the state should work on improving structural economic conditions so productive businesses and income earners stay?
My suppositions was that the thought in your first clause was the psychological prompt that motivated RobE’s remark.
I can’t follow you. GDP loss is GDP loss no matter the source of economic rents. I guess one could view the migration of retirees in general as concerning because retirement income it is not taxed in Illinois, but if I am Pritzker with significant challenges including a gobsmacking pension problem, I care about migration no matter what is publicly acknowledged. The math right now is in bad shape. I suppose one could state in rebuttal it is not but the state leads the nation by far in per capita debt. In any event, animus against public employees is not… Read more »
Pritzker and Leftist Democrats have created the highest inflation rate in America in Chicago, 4.1% Wonder how? Not!
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/where-inflation-highest-september-boston-chicago-ranked-near-top
Of course a democrat is responsible but 4.1% is…..not that bad. Save your money and invest wisely, then sit back and laugh at the suckers who don’t. I thought we repubs were the party of personal responsibility.
More people are escaping every day. Develop your exit strategy and stick to it. It is definitely possible.
but I have family here….and my doctors are here … and my kids are in school here … and I would have to find a new job …. and …. so many excuses when the truth is you’re just scared of change. Sad.
Move along folks. Nothing to see here. Just carnival barkers. Can anyone answer the question, what do you do when your body is engulfed in unquenchable fire? Do you let it burn you to death or do you shoot yourself. This is where you people are. Do you want the pain to end quickly or do you want the end to be dragged out in excruciating pain? Those are your choices.
I have five brothers and four sisters. We were all born in Chicago. Only one brother has remained in Chicago–and that’s because of his job. Everyone else has cleared out.
By the way, my brother voted for Vallas. He is disappointed in what Chicago has become and does not intend to retire in Illinois.
Do these latest population #’s include migrants bused in by Abbott? JB & crew, CTU/Brandon, etc should be praising Abbott and begging to Abbott to keep the busses rolling in
Four years ago, I undertook a massive amount of online research when deciding where to move. For me it came down to Florida and Tennessee. (I’m still happy I ended up in Tennessee.) It sure would have been nice if WP published a single, up to date spreadsheet listing all the pros and cons of each state. Maybe something easy to understand like a letter grade (A thru F) for the categories of income tax, property tax, sales tax, debt, cost of living, crime, public schools, school choice, business friendliness, and climate. WP has published data on many of these categories,… Read more »
We too did a lot of research after I retired. We chose to move to Tennessee from Illinois 4 years ago and crossed the break even cost threshold last year. I figured out that we save about $10,000/year on property taxes alone. I didn’t even mention the savings on the other state, local and municipal fees and charges.
Now add $150k to the home prices in TN compared to IL and the numbers don’t work out well. The suburbs of Nashville are pricer than DuPage County.
So…don’t move to Nashville. Other places in Tennessee are much more affordable.
I own sizable portions of a few businesses in 11 different states. FL and TN being easier places to operate a business is largely a myth these days, or at least less true than it was 20 years ago.
The run-rate is +110,000 per year – that’s a LOT of folks hitting the door.
So you’re saying the state will lose over 1 million people between censuses. The U.S. Census Bureau during the 2010 to 2020 period estimate total population loss in Illinois at about 163,000. The actual number was 18,000. Off by a factor of 9. While I do believe Illinois is losing population I’m not sure the Census Bureau estimates are all that accurate.
The data is from the Census for this decade. I’m sure Pritzker and the Leftist Democrats hope to have illegals fill the gap.
Carnival barkers! According to JB the Census Bureau is lying like the IRS and moving companies are. People moving next door prove that if someone needs access to IL they stay in the midwest. If they don’t they move down south.I’d imagine numbers would be far worse were it not for the illegals being bussed in.