Illinois outbound migration

Not only would half of the Illinois residents who took part in a recent poll say they would love to move away from Illinois, they can also sum up the reason they want to leave in one, single word. Can you guess what that word is?

For the first time in a decade, another state tops Illinois when it comes to "outbound migration," or more simply put, "people leaving the state to find a better place." The top state for outbound migration topped Illinois in 2024 by a single percentage point.

We may not be leading the nation right now in "outbound migration," but Illinois is still losing population to other states. These 3 take most of Illinois' departing residents.