Study Shows Illinois Residents Are Really Good at Packing Up and Leaving

Nobody empties out of the Midwest quite like Illinois.

Nearly 15 million Americans moved in 2025, according to a new migration map created by data site Visual Capitalist using moving data from HireAHelper. The map tracks which states gained residents and which ones saw people head for the exits.

And when it comes to the Midwest… well… Illinois appears to have the most people heading for the door.

Illinois Leads the Midwest in One Unfortunate Category

The study measured net migration per 10,000 residents, and Illinois posted a -14.5 score in 2025. That means significantly more people moved out of the state than moved in.

To be fair, Illinois is far from the worst in the country. But among Midwestern states, it stands out for how many people are packing up and going somewhere else.

The Data Shows a Clear Pattern

Researchers say moves across the country continue to be driven by cost of living, job opportunities, and lifestyle changes.

When those factors line up somewhere else… people tend to go.

And based on the data, Illinois residents appear pretty willing to test that theory.

MORE: 5 Most Expensive Places to Live In Illinois

A Quick Reality Check

At this point, most Illinois residents probably know someone who has moved recently… a coworker, family member, or neighbor.

So seeing the numbers pop up on a national map might not feel all that shocking.

Still, seeing Illinois stand out as the Midwest state losing residents the fastest does make you pause for a second and think…

“Yeah… that checks out.”

Visual Capitalist created a must-see map of the entire country and where people are leaving the most.

READ MORE: The 22 Best Places to Live in Illinois