Do you live in one of the most miserable places in Illinois?
According to a Harris Poll taken in October of 2015, only a third of Americans say they are truly happy. That’s too bad, considering that Americans – especially folks in Illinois – don’t really have it too bad, in the grand scheme of things.
But, we were curious – which Illinois cities might be the most miserable? We’re about to find out, using science and data.
After analyzing the largest cities, we sadly present the most miserable cities in the Prairie State:
- Riverdale
- Harvey (Photos)
- Dolton
- Chicago (Photos)
- University Park
- Robbins
- Sauk Village
- Phoenix
- Calumet City
- Cairo
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably don’t live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Forsyth is the happiest place in Illinois.
Or check out the Most Miserable Cities In America.
If you’re looking for something more positive, check out the best states in America or the best places to live in America.
How We Measured The Most Miserable Cities In Illinois
In order to rank the unhappiest places in Illinois, we had to determine what criteria makes people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2010-2014 report for the criteria, flipped the list, and it spit out the answer. Like magic.
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of home owners
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 108 places in Illinois with over 2,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 403 for each of the seven criteria with a score of one being the most miserable (Any ties were given to the larger place).
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Miserable Index for each place with the lowest overall Miserable Index ‘earning’ the title ‘Most Miserable City In Illinois’.
If you’d like to see the complete list of states, most miserable to happiest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
1. Riverdale
Population: 13,278
People Who Own Their Home: 38.84%
Married Adults: 22.68%
2. Harvey
Population: 25,225
People Who Own Their Home: 34.78%
Married Adults: 26.19%
3. Dolton
Population: 23,262
People Who Own Their Home: 58.12%
Married Adults: 31.42%
4. Chicago
Population: 2,712,608
People Who Own Their Home: 38.58%
Married Adults: 34.7%
5. University Park
Population: 6,852
People Who Own Their Home: 48.29%
Married Adults: 24.25%
6. Robbins
Population: 5,221
People Who Own Their Home: 39.65%
Married Adults: 18.71%
7. Sauk Village
Population: 10,545
People Who Own Their Home: 54.67%
Married Adults: 33.13%
8. Phoenix
Population: 2,143
People Who Own Their Home: 44.31%
Married Adults: 25.19%
9. Calumet City
Population: 37,197
People Who Own Their Home: 50.67%
Married Adults: 31.17%
10. Cairo
Population: 2,688
People Who Own Their Home: 31.39%
Married Adults: 21.95%
There You Have It
Like we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in {state} is usually a subjective matter. But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
If you’re curious enough, here are the happiest cities in {state}, according to science:
For more Illinois reading , check out:
- These Are The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
- These Are The 10 Worst Places To Live In Illinois
- These Are The 10 Best Places To Live In Illinois
Detailed List Of Miserable Places In Illinois
City | Rank |
---|---|
Riverdale | 1 |
Harvey | 2 |
Dolton | 3 |
Chicago | 4 |
University Park | 5 |
Robbins | 6 |
Sauk Village | 7 |
Phoenix | 8 |
Calumet City | 9 |
Cairo | 10 |
Hazel Crest | 11 |
Calumet Park | 12 |
Park Forest | 13 |
Cicero | 14 |
Madison | 15 |
Centreville | 16 |
Chicago Heights | 17 |
Maywood | 18 |
Markham | 19 |
Blue Island | 20 |
Cahokia | 21 |
Richton Park | 22 |
Fairmont | 23 |
Posen | 24 |
Summit | 25 |
Kankakee | 26 |
Chicago Ridge | 27 |
Harvard | 28 |
North Chicago | 29 |
Zion | 30 |
Justice | 31 |
Country Club Hills | 32 |
Rantoul | 33 |
Lynwood | 34 |
Park City | 35 |
Waukegan | 36 |
Rockford | 37 |
Steger | 38 |
Du Quoin | 39 |
Rosemont | 40 |
Worth | 41 |
Berwyn | 42 |
Fox Lake | 43 |
Alton | 44 |
Danville | 45 |
Forest Park | 46 |
Melrose Park | 47 |
West Frankfort | 48 |
Charleston | 49 |
Bellwood | 50 |
Dekalb | 51 |
Harrisburg | 52 |
Benton | 53 |
Alsip | 54 |
Metropolis | 55 |
Centralia | 56 |
Murphysboro | 57 |
Oregon | 58 |
Lyons | 59 |
River Grove | 60 |
Mount Vernon | 61 |
Hoopeston | 62 |
Pontoon Beach | 63 |
Carbondale | 64 |
Georgetown | 65 |
Pinckneyville | 66 |
Streator | 67 |
Broadview | 68 |
Decatur | 69 |
Highwood | 70 |
Sumner | 71 |
Rock Falls | 72 |
Monmouth | 73 |
Glenwood | 74 |
Macomb | 75 |
Mattoon | 76 |
Galesburg | 77 |
Richmond | 78 |
Peoria | 79 |
Elmwood Park | 80 |
Bridgeview | 81 |
Beardstown | 82 |
Bensenville | 83 |
Freeport | 84 |
Robinson | 85 |
Crest Hill | 86 |
Westmont | 87 |
Marseilles | 88 |
South Holland | 89 |
Harwood Heights | 90 |
Thornton | 91 |
Sparta | 92 |
Evanston | 93 |
Lansing | 94 |
Hickory Hills | 95 |
Granite City | 96 |
Canton | 97 |
Sheridan | 98 |
Belleville | 99 |
Wilmington | 100 |
Aurora | 101 |
Jacksonville | 102 |
Lakemoor | 103 |
East Alton | 104 |
Champaign | 105 |
Schiller Park | 106 |
Hillside | 107 |
Woodstock | 108 |
Carpentersville | 109 |
Belvidere | 110 |
Genoa | 111 |
Joliet | 112 |
Ottawa | 113 |
Sandwich | 114 |
Rochelle | 115 |
Urbana | 116 |
White Hall | 117 |
Lasalle | 118 |
East Moline | 119 |
Paris | 120 |
Elgin | 121 |
Vandalia | 122 |
Braidwood | 123 |
Matteson | 124 |
Watseka | 125 |
Collinsville | 126 |
Willowbrook | 127 |
Addison | 128 |
Palos Hills | 129 |
Rock Island | 130 |
Round Lake Beach | 131 |
Mount Sterling | 132 |
Wood River | 133 |
Glendale Heights | 134 |
Springfield | 135 |
Round Lake Park | 136 |
Greenville | 137 |
Kewanee | 138 |
Sterling | 139 |
Midlothian | 140 |
Taylorville | 141 |
Burbank | 142 |
Mendota | 143 |
Riverton | 144 |
Clinton | 145 |
Creve Coeur | 146 |
Flora | 147 |
Franklin Park | 148 |
North Riverside | 149 |
Peoria Heights | 150 |
Oak Lawn | 151 |
Northlake | 152 |
West Chicago | 153 |
Island Lake | 154 |
Mason City | 155 |
Crestwood | 156 |
Milan | 157 |
Oak Park | 158 |
Marion | 159 |
Skokie | 160 |
Chester | 161 |
Hanover Park | 162 |
Plano | 163 |
Stickney | 164 |
Morris | 165 |
Herrin | 166 |
Boulder Hill | 167 |
Dixon | 168 |
Marengo | 169 |
Mount Carmel | 170 |
Newton | 171 |
Carmi | 172 |
Seneca | 173 |
Rolling Meadows | 174 |
Spring Valley | 175 |
Olney | 176 |
Normal | 177 |
Altamont | 178 |
Evergreen Park | 179 |
Pana | 180 |
Lebanon | 181 |
Jonesboro | 182 |
Wheeling | 183 |
Westville | 184 |
Peru | 185 |
Princeton | 186 |
Loves Park | 187 |
Cortland | 188 |
Orland Hills | 189 |
Carlinville | 190 |
Villa Park | 191 |
Quincy | 192 |
Fairfield | 193 |
Berkeley | 194 |
Pontiac | 195 |
Niles | 196 |
Homewood | 197 |
Galena | 198 |
Romeoville | 199 |
Norridge | 200 |
Sullivan | 201 |
Beecher | 202 |
Lincoln | 203 |
Wood Dale | 204 |
Mchenry | 205 |
Countryside | 206 |
Sycamore | 207 |
Bourbonnais | 208 |
Abingdon | 209 |
Bradley | 210 |
Woodridge | 211 |
Carol Stream | 212 |
Willowbrook | 213 |
Lisle | 214 |
Pekin | 215 |
Machesney Park | 216 |
Palatine | 217 |
Bolingbrook | 218 |
Moline | 219 |
Wauconda | 220 |
Coal City | 221 |
Lewistown | 222 |
Farmington | 223 |
Carrollton | 224 |
South Beloit | 225 |
Petersburg | 226 |
Pittsfield | 227 |
Oak Forest | 228 |
Antioch | 229 |
Mundelein | 230 |
Nashville | 231 |
Staunton | 232 |
Litchfield | 233 |
Hillsboro | 234 |
Lawrenceville | 235 |
Schaumburg | 236 |
La Grange Park | 237 |
Savoy | 238 |
Marshall | 239 |
Salem | 240 |
Glen Carbon | 241 |
Mascoutah | 242 |
Bloomington | 243 |
Streamwood | 244 |
Elburn | 245 |
Effingham | 246 |
Eureka | 247 |
Elwood | 248 |
Prospect Heights | 249 |
Albion | 250 |
Willow Springs | 251 |
Lombard | 252 |
Brookfield | 253 |
Chillicothe | 254 |
Fairview Heights | 255 |
Bartonville | 256 |
Round Lake | 257 |
Beach Park | 258 |
Silvis | 259 |
Edwardsville | 260 |
Bethalto | 261 |
Gages Lake | 262 |
Crete | 263 |
Jerseyville | 264 |
Warrenville | 265 |
Crystal Lake | 266 |
Carthage | 267 |
Shorewood | 268 |
Manteno | 269 |
Rockton | 270 |
Des Plaines | 271 |
East Peoria | 272 |
Mount Prospect | 273 |
Johnsburg | 274 |
Lake Of The Woods | 275 |
Lockport | 276 |
Brighton | 277 |
Bloomingdale | 278 |
Barrington | 279 |
Tinley Park | 280 |
Cary | 281 |
Colona | 282 |
Troy | 283 |
Montgomery | 284 |
O’Fallon | 285 |
Gurnee | 286 |
Hoffman Estates | 287 |
Hamilton | 288 |
Monee | 289 |
Lake In The Hills | 290 |
Glen Ellyn | 291 |
Batavia | 292 |
Carterville | 293 |
Palos Heights | 294 |
Darien | 295 |
Algonquin | 296 |
Morton Grove | 297 |
Lake Villa | 298 |
Poplar Grove | 299 |
Minooka | 300 |
Highland | 301 |
West Dundee | 302 |
Riverside | 303 |
Shelbyville | 304 |
Cambridge | 305 |
Roscoe | 306 |
Winthrop Harbor | 307 |
Wheaton | 308 |
Orland Park | 309 |
Manhattan | 310 |
Spring Grove | 311 |
Fairbury | 312 |
North Aurora | 313 |
Naperville | 314 |
Flossmoor | 315 |
La Grange | 316 |
Godfrey | 317 |
Westchester | 318 |
Lemont | 319 |
Elk Grove Village | 320 |
Itasca | 321 |
Auburn | 322 |
Lindenhurst | 323 |
Roselle | 324 |
Swansea | 325 |
Yorkville | 326 |
Arlington Heights | 327 |
Plainfield | 328 |
Grayslake | 329 |
Knoxville | 330 |
Downers Grove | 331 |
Winfield | 332 |
El Paso | 333 |
Trenton | 334 |
Bartlett | 335 |
Waterloo | 336 |
Lincolnshire | 337 |
Clarendon Hills | 338 |
Grandwood Park | 339 |
Frankfort Square | 340 |
Columbia | 341 |
Sleepy Hollow | 342 |
Wayne | 343 |
Elmhurst | 344 |
Vernon Hills | 345 |
Maryville | 346 |
Highland Park | 347 |
Fulton | 348 |
Geneva | 349 |
Lakewood | 350 |
Cherry Valley | 351 |
Mokena | 352 |
Lincolnwood | 353 |
Lexington | 354 |
Burr Ridge | 355 |
Lake Zurich | 356 |
Sugar Grove | 357 |
Hampshire | 358 |
Shiloh | 359 |
Buffalo Grove | 360 |
Glenview | 361 |
Hampton | 362 |
Frankfort | 363 |
Park Ridge | 364 |
Campton Hills | 365 |
South Elgin | 366 |
New Lenox | 367 |
Northfield | 368 |
Homer Glen | 369 |
River Forest | 370 |
Geneseo | 371 |
Long Grove | 372 |
Inverness | 373 |
Oswego | 374 |
Lake Forest | 375 |
Huntley | 376 |
Hinsdale | 377 |
Hawthorn Woods | 378 |
Wilmette | 379 |
Deer Park | 380 |
Channahon | 381 |
Monticello | 382 |
Kenilworth | 383 |
Wadsworth | 384 |
Libertyville | 385 |
Winnetka | 386 |
Mount Zion | 387 |
Glencoe | 388 |
Lake Bluff | 389 |
Gilberts | 390 |
Northbrook | 391 |
Chatham | 392 |
Western Springs | 393 |
Washington | 394 |
Morton | 395 |
Roanoke | 396 |
Deerfield | 397 |
Winnebago | 398 |
Oak Brook | 399 |
Rochester | 400 |
Sherman | 401 |
Mahomet | 402 |
Forsyth | 403 |