The good news from the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures: Population in the Land of Lincoln remains about the same.
The bad news from the same data: The population in Illinois is about the same.
Some see the information that we grew by a mere 16,108 people as a rosy win for the state, indeed, the Midwest. That despite frigid temperatures, lake-effect snowstorms, job losses, an anti-business climate, traffic gridlock, low birth rates, tornadoes, sky-high taxes, corruption and crime.
Illinois continues to grow, reaching an overall citizenry of 12.7 million, keeping its status as the sixth-largest state in the union for now.
Those who think a 16,000 increase in population is a win-win must subscribe to fictional detective Nero Wolfe’s description of pessimists, who get “nothing but pleasant surprises.” Considering that the fastest-growing state, according to figures gleaned by the July 2024 to July 2025 population estimates from the Census Bureau, gained almost 80,000 new residents.
That state would be South Carolina, whose population rose through domestic net migration over the past year. The Palmetto State was followed by four other states increasing more, much more, residents than Illinois: Idaho, North Carolina, Texas and Utah.
A sibling lives in Utah on the outskirts of Zion National Park and is always crowing about trekking hiking paths during sunlit mornings during fall and winter, with temperatures in the 70s. That is while we suffer in Northeast Illinois with below-zero actual temperatures and icy windchills.
In truth, Illinois is a slow-growth state, being bypassed by those seeking warmer weather, affordable housing and low property taxes. Those moving to Idaho, a mid-sized state, apparently don’t mind that cold weather out West.
North Carolina’s population recently topped 11 million, with new residents behind the state’s growth, and is nipping at the heels of Illinois’ population and could surpass it by the next national census. Officials estimate nearly 140,000 people moved to North Carolina in 2024, the highest net migration in the Southeast.
Other states attracting masses of new residents, many from Illinois, include Arkansas, Georgia and Tennessee. Loser states continue to be California, Louisiana and New Jersey, which the United Van Lines 2024 National Movers Study pegged as the state with the highest share of outbound moves. The company said 64% of New Jersey’s residents moved out, compared with 36% of new move-ins.
There are various reasons for people leaving one state for another, and the U.S. has always been a nation of those seeking utopia. Job markets, taxation, remote work options, family and lifestyles are pushing Americans into migrating.
Yet, growth in Illinois has been flat for a number of years, with high outbound migration rates. One analysis places us among states with the largest total net outbound migration from 2020 to 2024. In that timeframe, according to a Coastal Moving Services analysis of data, about 139,399 people left Illinois; 56,000 alone pulling up stakes last year.
Among nearby Midwest states, Illinois continues to trail Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri vying for new residents. Job growth follows those moving to other states.
Over the decades, the state, especially Chicagoland, has been a magnet for immigrants, some certainly undocumented. With the federal crackdown on immigration, Chicago may lose its place as the country’s third-largest city during the next census, being overtaken by Houston in high-growth Texas.
As for immigrants, it looks like we need those folks to make sure we get our fair share of government funding from Washington, D.C., when census numbers eventually are crunched, depending on the presidential administration. The current one likes to punish Illinois and other blue states.
Illinois has been losing its regional status to adjoining states that have cherry-picked businesses and native Illinoisans over the years. With fewer new Illinois residents replacing those already here, the tax burden hits those remaining hard in their pocketbooks.
Illinois lawmakers for decades have neglected to take into account losing populations as they protect their realm. Fewer residents means fewer congressional seats and clout in Congress. Make no mistake, gaining 16,000 people is a population loss when other states close by and far away continue to gain new citizens rapidly.
With a less-than-promising growth cycle in Illinois, one also has to wonder who will be buying homes in new housing developments in Lake County. Such as the 800-acre mega-plan in Mundelein offered by the Wirtz family, owners of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team.
Massive proposals such as the Wirtz plan may have to be curtailed if state population growth continues at a flat rate. That seems to be the case for the near future and beyond.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
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