Illinois Earns High Marks For Raising Families In 2026

Choosing the right place to raise a family is a big deal. There are so many things to consider – schools, safety, affordability, things to do on the weekends, and whether your paycheck will allow you to those things. But, how can you determine which states are better than others? Maybe the new report from WalletHub can help.

How WalletHub Ranked The Best States For Families

To determine the Best & Worst States to Raise a Family in 2026, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 50 different family-friendly factors, looking at everything from median family income and housing costs to health care quality, crime rates, and school systems. In other words, the stuff families really care about.

Why Illinois Stood Out In The 2026 Study

The results were NOT great for Indiana and Kentucky (both in the bottom half of the country), but Illinois did great, ranking as the 9th best state in the country to raise a family in 2026. Not too shabby, especially for families here in the Tri-State area who may already split time between Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois for work, school, or fun.

ALSO READ: Illinois is Home to Some of the Snowiest Counties in the U.S.

Illinois Scores Big In Family Fun And Income

Illinois really shines when it comes to Family Fun, ranking 3rd in the entire country. That means access to parks, attractions, entertainment, and activities that actually get kids off the couch—and parents out of the house. The state also scored solidly in Affordability (16th) and Education & Child Care (17th), both huge considerations for parents juggling budgets and busy schedules. And Illinois has the 3rd highest median family income in the country!

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If you want to see how Indiana and Kentucky ranked, or any other state, just scroll over the map below. And you can see the FULL REPORT if you want to take a deeper dive into the data.

Source: WalletHub

10 Fascinating Things To Do in Illinois That Aren’t in Chicago

A recent survey says Illinois is one of the most fun states in the U.S. Chicago is the biggest reason for the ranking, but there's much more than the Windy City.

Gallery Credit: Steve Shannon

Illinois Town Will Make You Feel Like You are in the Movie HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS

Remember the 80s classic "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"? What's it like to feel like a tiny ant looking up at the giant world around you? There's a small town only two hours from the tri-state that is home to over 20 giant items. Being surrounded by them definitely gives you the perspective of an itty bitty bug.

Lacey Marsh and her family visited the small town during spring break this year and shared her photos with us. She said, "It's a really neat place! And people were very friendly."

For more on the attractions at Casey, IL, visit the website bigthingssmalltown.com.

Gallery Credit: BOBBY G

Filed Under: Illinois