Wisconsin vs. Illinois: Where Should You Live If You Work in the Milwaukee–Chicago Corridor?
Wisconsin usually wins on property and sales tax, but Illinois’s flat income tax can beat Wisconsin for high earners. Which side comes out ahead depends on your income and your home price — so run your own numbers below.
Beatrice Yunck, Real Estate Consultant, Queen Bea Realty Group
Wisconsin license 98118-94 · Illinois license 475.210497 · 4 years in the area
Speaks: English, Po polsku, Deutsch, Español
Compare your yearly taxes
Your income, your home price, real towns — not state averages.
In Pleasant Prairie you'd pay about $12,097 less per year than in Gurnee.
Illinois saves you $286 on state income tax, but Wisconsin comes out ahead overall.
| Yearly estimate | Pleasant Prairie, WI | Gurnee, IL |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | $12,371 | $12,085 |
| Property tax | $7,930 | $17,875 |
| Sales tax | $4,125 | $6,563 |
| Total | $24,426 | $36,523 |
Income tax follows your home state only: Wisconsin and Illinois have a reciprocity agreement, so wherever your job is, your wages are taxed by the state you live in.
This is only an estimate for comparison based on rates as of Oct 12, 2026. Not tax, legal or financial advice. Your actual taxes depend on your situation; consult a tax professional.
Rates last checked 2026-10-12 for tax year 2026. Towns appear once both their property and sales tax rates are sourced.
Get your personalized Wisconsin vs. Illinois comparison
Your calculator results plus three matching neighborhoods, median prices, school districts and commute times — and a call with a local agent.
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Step 1 of 8
What brings you here?
The short answer, by situation
Married couples filing jointly, comparing Pleasant Prairie, WI with Gurnee, IL. Figures come straight from the calculator.
| Household | Pleasant Prairie | Gurnee | Costs less |
|---|---|---|---|
| $180,000 household, $450,000 home | $17,121 | $25,720 | Wisconsin, by $8,599 |
| $250,000 household, $650,000 home | $24,426 | $36,523 | Wisconsin, by $12,097 |
| $400,000 household, $900,000 home | $37,901 | $54,760 | Wisconsin, by $16,859 |
| $600,000 household, $1,200,000 home | $59,103 | $78,450 | Wisconsin, by $19,347 |
Wisconsin vs. Illinois property taxes: the biggest difference
Both states tax homes every year on their value, at rates set by the local taxing bodies (town, county, school district). The effective rate — tax as a share of the home’s value — varies by town.
Worked example on the same $450,000 home: in the City of Kenosha (effective rate 1.54%) that is about $6,944 a year; in Gurnee, Lake County (about 2.75%) it is about $12,375.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois income tax: where Illinois can win
Illinois taxes income at a flat 4.95%. Wisconsin uses four brackets from 3.5% to 7.65%; for 2026 the top rate starts at about $443,630 of taxable income for married couples filing jointly ($332,720 single). The higher your income, the more Illinois’s flat rate helps.
| Household income (joint) | Wisconsin income tax | Illinois income tax |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $6,970 | $7,135 |
| $300,000 | $15,021 | $14,560 |
| $500,000 | $26,913 | $24,460 |
| $750,000 | $46,038 | $37,125 |
State income tax only; federal tax is the same on both sides. High earners should run their own numbers.
Living in Wisconsin and working in Illinois (or the reverse)
Wisconsin and Illinois have a reciprocity agreement: your wages are taxed only by the state you live in. That makes your home address — not your office — the income-tax decision. Wisconsin residents who work in Illinois give their employer Form IL-W-5-NR so Illinois tax isn’t withheld.
Source: Illinois Comptroller payroll bulletin
Everyone’s situation is different — talk to a CPA before you decide.
Sales tax, groceries and everyday costs
Wisconsin’s state sales tax is 5% and most counties add 0.5%. Illinois’s state rate is 6.25%, with local rates on top. Illinois ended its 1% state grocery tax on January 1, 2026, but counties and towns may add their own 1%.
Source: Avalara
Town-by-town matchups
Pairs chosen by location and price range — towns a buyer working in the corridor typically weighs against each other.
Pleasant Prairie / Kenosha vs. Gurnee / Libertyville
- Property tax: 1.22% vs. 2.75%
- Typical home value: Pleasant Prairie — $470,000; Gurnee — $382,000 (Zillow Home Value Index, Aug 2026)
- Commute: Pleasant Prairie — Metra UP-N (Kenosha) 1 hr 32 min–1 hr 42 min; Gurnee — Metra UP-N (Waukegan) 1 hr 10 min–1 hr 20 min
- Schools: Pleasant Prairie — Kenosha Unified School District; Gurnee — Gurnee SD 56 or Woodland CCSD 50 (others in parts); Warren Township HSD 121
Mequon vs. Lake Forest
- Property tax: 1.10% vs. 1.87%
- Typical home value: Mequon — $660,000; Lake Forest — $1,248,000 (Zillow Home Value Index, Aug 2026)
- Commute: Mequon — Drive to the Chicago Loop: about 1 hr 50 min; Lake Forest — Metra UP-N (Lake Forest) 56 min–1 hr 6 min
- Schools: Mequon — Mequon-Thiensville School District; Lake Forest — Lake Forest SD 67; Lake Forest CHSD 115
- Property tax: 1.23% vs. 2.19%
- Typical home value: Lake Geneva — $420,000; Barrington — $646,000 (Zillow Home Value Index, Aug 2026)
- Commute: Lake Geneva — Drive to the Chicago Loop: about 1 hr 40 min; Barrington — Metra UP-NW (Barrington) 47 min–1 hr 5 min
- Schools: Lake Geneva — Lake Geneva Joint 1 School District (elementary); Lake Geneva–Genoa City Union High School District (Badger High School); Barrington — Barrington CUSD 220
Commuting across the state line
Metra’s Union Pacific North line serves Kenosha, and the Amtrak Hiawatha runs between Milwaukee, Sturtevant and Chicago. Many people drive I-94.
- Amtrak Hiawatha from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Union Station: 1 hr 29 min
- Metra UP-N from Kenosha to Ogilvie Transportation Center: 1 hr 32 min–1 hr 42 min
Source: Amtrak Hiawatha, Metra
Schools on each side
Both states publish official report cards for every school and district: the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction report cards and the Illinois Report Card. Your home address usually determines your public school district. We link to official data rather than publish our own rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to live in Wisconsin or Illinois?
It depends on your income and home price. In the corridor towns we compare, Wisconsin usually has lower property and sales tax, while Illinois’s flat 4.95% income tax can be lower for high earners. Run your own numbers in the calculator on this page.
If I live in Wisconsin and work in Illinois, which state taxes my wages?
Wisconsin. Illinois and Wisconsin have a reciprocal agreement, so wages are taxed by the state you live in. Wisconsin residents working in Illinois give their employer Form IL-W-5-NR. Check your situation with a CPA.
What is the Illinois income tax rate?
A flat 4.95%. For 2026, each taxpayer gets a $2,925 exemption allowance, which is not available if federal AGI is over $250,000 ($500,000 married filing jointly).
What are Wisconsin’s income tax rates?
Wisconsin has four brackets from 3.5% to 7.65%. For 2026, the 7.65% rate starts at about $332,720 of taxable income for single filers and $443,630 for married couples filing jointly.
Does Illinois still tax groceries?
Illinois ended its 1% state grocery tax on January 1, 2026, but counties and towns may add their own 1% local grocery tax. Wisconsin does not tax most groceries.
How do I compare schools across the state line?
Use each state’s official report cards: the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction report cards and the Illinois Report Card. In both states your home address usually determines your public school district.
This is only an estimate for comparison based on rates as of Oct 12, 2026. Not tax, legal or financial advice. Your actual taxes depend on your situation; consult a tax professional. Queen Bea Realty Group is licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Get your personalized Wisconsin vs. Illinois comparison
Your calculator results, three matching neighborhoods and a call with a local agent.
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