State index
Illinois cities in the launch dataset
Compare large Illinois cities by 2025 Census population, population momentum, and verified data-readiness notes. The current Illinois subset includes 1 large Midwest cities with a combined 2025 population estimate of 2,731,585.
State signal
Chicago, Illinois has the strongest verified population-growth signal in this Illinois subset at -0.61% since the 2020 estimates base. Treat this as a starting point, then verify affordability, job, school, tax, safety, and commute tradeoffs.
Illinois city index ad ยท Auto ads enabled
| City | Rank | 2025 population | 2020 base | Growth | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, Illinois | #3 | 2,731,585 | 2,748,333 | -0.61% | stable |