Best Counties in Illinois — 2026 Rankings
102 of 102 counties scored across 12 dimensions
102
102 scored
53/100
composite score
70.7/100
30.3—70.7
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Illinois
Illinois Performs Slightly Above the National Median
With an average composite score of 52.8, Illinois edges out the national median of 50.0 across its 102 counties. This performance places the state in a competitive position despite significant internal variance between its urban centers and rural regions.
Strong Healthcare Access and Competitive Incomes
Illinois shines in public health with a robust health score of 66.2, signaling better-than-average wellness outcomes and medical access. The state also maintains a solid income score of 56.3, which indicates that residents find higher earning potential than many of their Midwestern peers.
Heavy Tax Burdens Limit Overall Affordability
A tax score of just 7.5 highlights Illinois' primary challenge, as high tax rates significantly depress the overall livability index for most residents. This fiscal pressure, combined with a moderate risk score of 45.6, creates a demanding financial environment in several key regions.
Rural Counties Lead the State in Livability
Hardin County tops the state with a composite score of 70.7, driven by an exceptional cost score of 94.1. Brown County and Hamilton County follow closely with scores of 69.5 and 68.6, offering a much more affordable lifestyle than the state's largest cities.
A High-Value Choice for Health-Conscious Earners
Illinois is an ideal fit for professionals who prioritize access to top-tier healthcare and higher salary brackets over tax savings. While urban centers like Cook County face significant cost challenges, the state's high-scoring rural counties offer a compelling alternative for those seeking balance.
All County Rankings in Illinois
Search, sort, and filter all 102 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 102 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hardin County | 70.7 | 26.7 | 94.1 | 30.8 | 97.5 | 48.4 | 87.6 | 91.7 | 34.2 | 57.8 | 55.5 | 66.4 | |
| 2 | Brown County | 69.5 | 14.3 | 65.8 | 71.9 | 97.5 | 70.1 | 84.2 | 95.3 | 86 | 53.6 | 71.1 | 73.1 | |
| 3 | Hamilton County | 68.6 | 18.8 | 86.8 | 43.7 | 93.3 | 61.8 | 82.4 | 69.2 | 52.8 | 53.5 | 63.3 | 61.8 | |
| 4 | Scott County | 68.1 | 17.8 | 79 | 74.1 | 89.3 | 78.2 | 70.3 | 97.3 | 11.9 | 49.8 | 67.4 | 72.8 | |
| 5 | Johnson County | 67.7 | 20.3 | 79.1 | 55.4 | 97.5 | 60.1 | 88 | 48.9 | 15.8 | 63 | 57.8 | 56 | |
| 6 | Gallatin County | 67.6 | 12.5 | 93.3 | 24.3 | 97.5 | 47.6 | 81.9 | 66.1 | 86 | 57.5 | 64.2 | 74.2 | |
| 7 | Pope County | 67.4 | 36.6 | 86.8 | 46.5 | 97.5 | 68.3 | 46.5 | 85.1 | 12.9 | 58.2 | 55.2 | 56.8 | |
| 8 | Edwards County | 66.7 | 14.7 | 75.1 | 37.1 | 82.9 | 69.6 | 89 | 73.9 | 86 | 56.5 | 65.6 | 52.1 | |
| 9 | Washington County | 63.7 | 4.8 | 53.7 | 78.1 | 94.3 | 81.3 | 74.6 | 44.9 | 86 | 58.6 | 71.4 | 71.2 | |
| 10 | Mercer County | 63.1 | 3.8 | 55 | 70.6 | 91 | 77.2 | 75.7 | 91.3 | 55.3 | 52.1 | 73.8 | 80.5 | |
| 11 | Calhoun County | 63 | 14 | 69 | 92.8 | 87.1 | 74.1 | 48.8 | 94 | 40.7 | 54.1 | 71.7 | 71.9 | |
| 12 | Pulaski County | 62.9 | 51 | 94.8 | 5.3 | 63.2 | 40.3 | 80.9 | 51 | 41 | 63 | 63.9 | 60.4 | |
| 13 | White County | 62.5 | 17.7 | 79.3 | 20.9 | 97.5 | 47.8 | 73.7 | 45.8 | 59 | 54.5 | 70.5 | 63.4 | |
| 14 | Alexander County | 62.2 | 8.5 | 93.2 | 5.6 | 97.5 | 35.4 | 70 | 55.9 | 86 | 63.7 | 63.4 | 57.8 | |
| 15 | Cumberland County | 62 | 5.9 | 65.4 | 65.9 | 92.7 | 79.4 | 56.5 | 74.2 | 36.3 | 57.1 | 72.4 | 67 | |
| 16 | Henderson County | 61.7 | 7.8 | 66 | 56.4 | 92.1 | 75 | 49 | 82.5 | 86 | 55 | 77.3 | 78.7 | |
| 17 | Stark County | 61.1 | 8.6 | 63.5 | 45.9 | 94.4 | 60.3 | 71.2 | 92.8 | 31.5 | 50.6 | 83.8 | 74.3 | |
| 18 | Shelby County | 60.9 | 12.9 | 64.3 | 62.9 | 91.3 | 68.5 | 65.1 | 48.3 | 37.1 | 53.2 | 77.1 | 70.7 | |
| 19 | Jo Daviess County | 60.8 | 6.2 | 45.4 | 77.2 | 88 | 83.7 | 79.3 | 48.7 | 43.2 | 54 | 75.4 | 69.2 | |
| 20 | Carroll County | 60.6 | 3 | 59.6 | 41.6 | 92.2 | 68.2 | 81.3 | 61 | 48.9 | 47.2 | 77.6 | 67 | |
| 21 | Greene County | 60.3 | 8.2 | 65.2 | 41.9 | 92.1 | 53 | 75.5 | 87.1 | 35.3 | 55.1 | 75.6 | 77 | |
| 22 | Edgar County | 59.8 | 11 | 70.3 | 30.1 | 94.7 | 57.6 | 65.5 | 65.1 | 32 | 54.4 | 75.5 | 70.2 | |
| 23 | Perry County | 59.8 | 8.1 | 77.1 | 36.7 | 94 | 52.8 | 72.1 | 27.9 | 29.7 | 58.4 | 67.5 | 63.6 | |
| 24 | Jasper County | 59.7 | 4.1 | 59.9 | 69.1 | 61.8 | 82.9 | 75.7 | 79.6 | 86 | 57.5 | 64.3 | 68.8 | |
| 25 | Putnam County | 59.3 | 9.6 | 49.3 | 80.9 | 81.3 | 84.1 | 62.7 | 90.9 | 22.6 | 47 | 70.2 | 74.2 |
Hardin County
Brown County
Hamilton County
Scott County
Johnson County
Gallatin County
Pope County
Edwards County
Washington County
Mercer County
Calhoun County
Pulaski County
White County
Alexander County
Cumberland County
Henderson County
Stark County
Shelby County
Jo Daviess County
Carroll County
Greene County
Edgar County
Perry County
Jasper County
Putnam County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Illinois
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Illinois.
What is the best county in Illinois?
Hardin County is the top-ranked county in Illinois with a CountyScore of 70.7/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Illinois?
Illinois has 102 counties in total. Of those, 102 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Illinois?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Illinois is 53/100. The national average is 50/100, so Illinois counties score 3 points above the national average.
How does Illinois compare to other states?
Illinois's average county score of 53/100 is 3 points above the national average of 50/100. You can compare Illinois counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Illinois.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.