Whitest cities in Illinois research summary. We analyzed Illinois’s most recent Census data to determine the whitest cities in Illinois based on the percentage of White residents. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The whitest city in Illinois is Litchfield based on the most recent Census data.
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Litchfield is 97.12% White.
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The least White city in Illinois is Riverdale.
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Riverdale is 0.61% White.
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Illinois is 58.1% White.
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Illinois is the 36th Whitest state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Today, we are looking at the whitest places in Illinois. We won’t measure the number of Whole Foods or Pottery Barns per capita. Instead, we’ll focus on the Census data’s report of race by place in Illinois. In particular, we ranked each place in Illinois by the percentage of white people.
So where are the whitest cities you can live in Illinois?
After analyzing cities with populations greater than 5,000, we came up with this list as the whitest cities in Illinois for 2026.
Here are the 10 whites places in Illinois for 2026:
What is the whitest city in Illinois for 2026? According to the most recent census data Litchfield ranks as the whitest. If you’re wondering, Riverdale is the least white city of all those we measured.
Read on below to see where your hometown ranked and why. Or check out the whitest states in America and the most diverse states in America.
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Illinois
The 10 Whitest Cities In Illinois For 2026
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Population: 6,834
% White: 97.12%
More on Litchfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,118
% White: 95.88%
More on West Frankfort: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,445
% White: 95.42%
More on Jerseyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,900
% White: 95.08%
More on Chillicothe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,127
% White: 94.9%
More on Columbia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,304
% White: 94.51%
More on Monticello: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,276
% White: 94.32%
More on Paris: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 11,129
% White: 94.08%
More on Waterloo: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 15,919
% White: 93.69%
More on Washington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 8,372
% White: 92.44%
More on Harrisburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the whitest places in Illinois for 2026
To rank the whitest places in Illinois, we used Saturday Night Science to look at Census demographic data.
We had to look at the number of white people living in each city in Illinois on a per capita basis. In other words, the percentage of white people living in each city in Illinois.
We looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as White alone.
We limited our analysis to town with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 324 cities.
We then calculated the percentage of residents that are White. The percentages ranked from 97.1% to 0.6%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of White population, with a higher score being more White than a lower score. Litchfield took the distinction of being the most White, while Riverdale was the least White city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report represents our eleventh time ranking the whitest cities in Illinois.
Read on for more information on how the cities in Illinois ranked by population of White residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: White Populations Across Illinois
We measured the locations with the highest percentage of white people in Illinois. According to the most recent data, this list provides accurate information on the whitest places in Illinois.
The most White cities in Illinois are Litchfield, West Frankfort, Jerseyville, Chillicothe, Columbia, Monticello, Paris, Waterloo, Washington, and Harrisburg.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least White places in Illinois:
- Riverdale
- Calumet Park
- East St. Louis
For more Illinois reading, check out:
White Population By City In Illinois
| Rank | City | Population | White Population | % White |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Litchfield | 6,834 | 6,637 | 97.12% |
| 2 | West Frankfort | 7,118 | 6,825 | 95.88% |
| 3 | Jerseyville | 7,445 | 7,104 | 95.42% |
| 4 | Chillicothe | 5,900 | 5,610 | 95.08% |
| 5 | Columbia | 11,127 | 10,559 | 94.9% |
| 6 | Monticello | 6,304 | 5,958 | 94.51% |
| 7 | Paris | 8,276 | 7,806 | 94.32% |
| 8 | Waterloo | 11,129 | 10,470 | 94.08% |
| 9 | Washington | 15,919 | 14,914 | 93.69% |
| 10 | Harrisburg | 8,372 | 7,739 | 92.44% |
| 11 | Bethalto | 9,239 | 8,505 | 92.06% |
| 12 | Eureka | 5,007 | 4,609 | 92.05% |
| 13 | Mount Carmel | 6,854 | 6,300 | 91.92% |
| 14 | Morton | 16,595 | 15,244 | 91.86% |
| 15 | Pana | 5,217 | 4,786 | 91.74% |
| 16 | Olney | 8,577 | 7,867 | 91.72% |
| 17 | Effingham | 12,342 | 11,303 | 91.58% |
| 18 | Salem | 7,236 | 6,610 | 91.35% |
| 19 | Highland | 10,262 | 9,345 | 91.06% |
| 20 | East Peoria | 22,324 | 20,322 | 91.03% |
| 21 | Carlinville | 5,480 | 4,987 | 91.0% |
| 22 | Taylorville | 10,646 | 9,609 | 90.26% |
| 23 | Mount Zion | 5,660 | 5,107 | 90.23% |
| 24 | Glencoe | 8,701 | 7,844 | 90.15% |
| 25 | Carterville | 5,818 | 5,222 | 89.76% |
| 26 | Benton | 6,863 | 6,143 | 89.51% |
| 27 | Clinton | 6,985 | 6,235 | 89.26% |
| 28 | Mattoon | 16,586 | 14,789 | 89.17% |
| 29 | New Lenox | 28,006 | 24,933 | 89.03% |
| 30 | Manteno | 9,030 | 8,031 | 88.94% |
| 31 | Mokena | 20,021 | 17,805 | 88.93% |
| 32 | Troy | 11,647 | 10,355 | 88.91% |
| 33 | Pekin | 31,781 | 28,225 | 88.81% |
| 34 | Hoopeston | 5,034 | 4,460 | 88.6% |
| 35 | East Alton | 5,689 | 5,033 | 88.47% |
| 36 | Chatham | 14,639 | 12,908 | 88.18% |
| 37 | Winnetka | 12,484 | 11,005 | 88.15% |
| 38 | Western Springs | 13,446 | 11,850 | 88.13% |
| 39 | Bartonville | 5,841 | 5,143 | 88.05% |
| 40 | Godfrey | 17,712 | 15,588 | 88.01% |
| 41 | Geneseo | 6,673 | 5,868 | 87.94% |
| 42 | Lincoln | 13,281 | 11,657 | 87.77% |
| 43 | Johnsburg | 6,386 | 5,605 | 87.77% |
| 44 | Sugar Grove | 9,240 | 8,107 | 87.74% |
| 45 | Campton Hills | 10,877 | 9,515 | 87.48% |
| 46 | Palos Heights | 12,152 | 10,599 | 87.22% |
| 47 | Wood River | 10,279 | 8,898 | 86.56% |
| 48 | Princeton | 7,975 | 6,896 | 86.47% |
| 49 | Coal City | 5,317 | 4,582 | 86.18% |
| 50 | Elburn | 6,354 | 5,475 | 86.17% |
| 51 | Deerfield | 19,518 | 16,804 | 86.09% |
| 52 | Quincy | 39,109 | 33,631 | 85.99% |
| 53 | Du Quoin | 5,726 | 4,923 | 85.98% |
| 54 | Braidwood | 6,062 | 5,206 | 85.88% |
| 55 | Herrin | 12,226 | 10,493 | 85.83% |
| 56 | Peru | 9,775 | 8,389 | 85.82% |
| 57 | Maryville | 8,316 | 7,133 | 85.77% |
| 58 | Marengo | 7,040 | 6,007 | 85.33% |
| 59 | Northfield | 5,487 | 4,678 | 85.26% |
| 60 | Canton | 13,144 | 11,202 | 85.23% |
| 61 | Robinson | 7,084 | 5,994 | 84.61% |
| 62 | Lemont | 17,820 | 15,068 | 84.56% |
| 63 | Marion | 16,836 | 14,225 | 84.49% |
| 64 | Edwardsville | 26,474 | 22,359 | 84.46% |
| 65 | Lockport | 26,409 | 22,296 | 84.43% |
| 66 | Homer Glen | 24,529 | 20,650 | 84.19% |
| 67 | Peoria Heights | 5,825 | 4,903 | 84.17% |
| 68 | Wilmington | 5,494 | 4,613 | 83.96% |
| 69 | Lake Bluff | 6,041 | 5,054 | 83.66% |
| 70 | Geneva | 21,258 | 17,749 | 83.49% |
| 71 | Spring Grove | 5,917 | 4,935 | 83.4% |
| 72 | Morris | 14,898 | 12,356 | 82.94% |
| 73 | Charleston | 17,062 | 14,109 | 82.69% |
| 74 | Ottawa | 18,447 | 15,229 | 82.56% |
| 75 | Park Ridge | 38,667 | 31,804 | 82.25% |
| 76 | Barrington | 11,077 | 9,065 | 81.84% |
| 77 | Batavia | 27,151 | 22,218 | 81.83% |
| 78 | Glen Carbon | 13,977 | 11,431 | 81.78% |
| 79 | Willow Springs | 5,868 | 4,799 | 81.78% |
| 80 | Pontiac | 11,294 | 9,235 | 81.77% |
| 81 | Milan | 5,034 | 4,115 | 81.74% |
| 82 | Mahomet | 10,049 | 8,204 | 81.64% |
| 83 | Metropolis | 5,864 | 4,785 | 81.6% |
| 84 | Jacksonville | 18,014 | 14,676 | 81.47% |
| 85 | Sandwich | 7,219 | 5,848 | 81.01% |
| 86 | Downers Grove | 50,054 | 40,493 | 80.9% |
| 87 | Sycamore | 18,559 | 15,004 | 80.84% |
| 88 | Highland Park | 30,398 | 24,559 | 80.79% |
| 89 | Roscoe | 10,706 | 8,638 | 80.68% |
| 90 | Libertyville | 20,525 | 16,554 | 80.65% |
| 91 | Centralia | 11,856 | 9,562 | 80.65% |
| 92 | Lake Zurich | 19,832 | 15,988 | 80.62% |
| 93 | Greenville | 7,235 | 5,830 | 80.58% |
| 94 | Lake Forest | 19,416 | 15,577 | 80.23% |
| 95 | Rockton | 7,974 | 6,396 | 80.21% |
| 96 | Machesney Park | 22,630 | 18,145 | 80.18% |
| 97 | Manhattan | 11,026 | 8,826 | 80.05% |
| 98 | Channahon | 13,927 | 11,103 | 79.72% |
| 99 | Palos Hills | 18,081 | 14,340 | 79.31% |
| 100 | Cary | 17,923 | 14,191 | 79.18% |
Pretty humorous list, Now do a list of “blackest” cities in Illinois using a bunch of stereotypical criteria and see how that flies.
My thoughts exactly. Although, I’m still not really understanding whitest. Perhaps in the same category as white privilege? Anyhoo. More useless information from internet, silly me.
It’s quite ridiculous that you get huffy about people not agreeing with “fact based” data when you subsequently come up with a list based off of coffee house to yoga parlor ratios. I wonder what my math teacher would say about those ratios…
It is BS (Bad Sociology) to use % white in total population. The question is, what % white is the HOUSEHOLD population. The notorious Anna, still known locally as “Ain’t No N* Allowed,” has about 75 African Americans in the IL State Mental Hospital, so it does not occur on this list. The first capital of IL, Vandalia, has about 1,300 African Americans, of whom about 1,300 are males age 18-70. They are in prison! And so it goes. For serious research on white IL cities, see the book SUNDOWN TOWNS.