MOVING near you
State-to-State Guide

Moving from Texas to Illinois

Compare cost of living, taxes, housing, and find the best moving companies for your Texas to Illinois move.

Quick Comparison

Leaving Texas

Population29.1M
State Income Tax0% (None)
Avg Home Price$340,000
Avg Rent$1,400/mo
Property Tax Rate1.80%
DESTINATION

Moving to Illinois

Population12.8M
State Income Tax4.95%
Avg Home Price$270,000
Avg Rent$1,300/mo
Property Tax Rate2.27%

Why Are People Moving from Texas to Illinois?

The migration corridor between Texas and Illinois is a popular interstate move. Thousands of households explore this route every year.

Tax Savings: Texas has no state income tax, compared to 4.95% in Illinois. This tax difference is one of the primary financial motivations for this move.

Cost of Living: Both states have a comparable cost of living. The average home price in Illinois is $70,000 less than Texas, allowing movers to significantly upgrade their housing.

Climate & Weather: Summers in Illinois average 84°F, compared to 96°F in Texas. Winters in Illinois average 28°F, compared to 48°F in Texas.

Jobs & Industry: Illinois's key industries include Finance, Manufacturing, Technology, which attract professionals from Texas's Energy and Technology sectors.

Popular City-to-City Routes

1090 mi
16h drive
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
via I-55 South / I-44 West
1190 mi
17h drive
Chicago, IL
San Antonio, TX
via I-55 South / I-44 West
920 mi
14h drive
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
via I-55 South / I-44 West
1090 mi
16h drive
Chicago, IL
Austin, TX
via I-55 South / I-44 West
1072 mi
19.5h drive
Fort Worth, TX
Chicago, IL
via I-5 North / I-10 East
1626 mi
29.6h drive
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
via I-5 North / I-10 East
1063 mi
19.3h drive
Arlington, TX
Chicago, IL
via I-5 North / I-10 East

Cities in Texas

Houston

Population2.3M
Median Home Price$290,000

San Antonio

Population1.5M
Median Home Price$265,000

Dallas

Population1.3M
Median Home Price$320,000

Austin

Population979K
Median Home Price$450,000

Fort Worth

Population919K
Median Home Price$290,000

El Paso

Population679K
Median Home Price$185,000

Arlington

Population394K
Median Home Price$280,000

Cities in Illinois

Chicago

Population2.7M
Median Home Price$315,000

Other Major Cities

Aurora
Naperville
Rockford
Springfield

Estimated Moving Cost

Based on the average distance of 1150 miles between Texas and Illinois:

Studio / 1 BR
$1,375
3–4 BR Home
$3,380

Estimates based on typical full-service interstate moves. Actual costs vary.

Texas → Illinois Transition Checklist

Driver's License

You must obtain a Illinois driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency.

Vehicle Registration

Register your vehicle in Illinois within 30 days.

Voter Registration

Update your voter registration to Illinois after establishing residency. You can typically register at your local DMV or online.

Vehicle Inspection

Illinois vehicle inspection requirement: Emissions in Chicago and Metro East.

Things to Know About Illinois

  • • Property taxes are among the highest in the nation
  • • Chicago has additional city taxes on many goods and services
  • • I-PASS/E-ZPass is essential for toll roads around Chicago

What's Different: Texas vs Illinois

Taxes

Texas Income Tax:None
Illinois Income Tax:4.95%
Texas Property Tax:1.80%
Illinois Property Tax:2.27%

Weather

Texas Summer Avg:96°F
Illinois Summer Avg:84°F
Texas Winter Avg:48°F
Illinois Winter Avg:28°F

Cost of Living

Texas COL Index:93
Illinois COL Index:97
Texas Avg Home Price:$340,000
Illinois Avg Home Price:$270,000
Texas Avg Rent:$1,400/mo
Illinois Avg Rent:$1,300/mo

Ready to make the move to Illinois?

Get quotes from licensed interstate carriers that regularly run routes between Texas and Illinois.