Chicago City Wire

Nearly half of Illinois residents indicate they would relocate from Illinois if possible, according to a recent poll conducted by M3 Strategies for the Illinois Policy Institute. In the survey of 550 likely voters, held between April 10 and April 13, a significant 49.5% expressed a desire to move, with 40% preferring to stay, while 10.5% remain uncertain.

Patrick Andriesen from the Illinois Policy Institute observed a notable shift in voter concerns, noting, "We're seeing voters shift to caring more about their cost of living in this round of polling." High taxes emerged as the most critical issue for voters, with the economy close behind. Housing affordability also ranked as an important concern for nearly one-fifth of participants. This reflects a departure from earlier polls where crime and immigration were more predominant.

The average Illinois taxpayer paid $4,030 in personal state income taxes in 2024, an increase of $1,589 since 2017. Including other taxes, such as property and sales taxes, the average household pays about $13,099 annually, accounting for approximately 16.5% of family income. These figures indicate that Illinois residents are facing one of the highest tax burdens in the country.

Former state representative and fiscal policy adviser Tom Demmer commented, "This should be a wake-up call for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to stop chasing national headlines and address the real cost-of-living crisis residents are facing." Demmer added that the state's high taxes and economic conditions deter existing and potential residents.