Which has more people, Illinois or Wisconsin?

Illinois has a population of 12,735,249 (6th of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).

How do Illinois and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Illinois $83,390 (18th of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. Illinois ranks better.

How do Illinois and Wisconsin compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?

Unemployment Rate (%): Illinois 4.6% (tied 40th of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.

Where does Illinois beat Wisconsin most clearly?

Illinois ranks far ahead on Opportunity and Competition Rank (Best State To Be a Police Officer): 4th vs 48th; Attractive People Rank (Most Attractive States): 1st vs 44th; DUI Rate (Worst Drivers by State): 0.6 per 1k drivers vs 2.5 per 1k drivers.

Where does Wisconsin beat Illinois most clearly?

Wisconsin ranks far ahead on Average Math SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 616 vs 473; Average Total SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 1,240 vs 961; Difference from National Average SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 211 vs -68.

Illinois vs Wisconsin

Wisconsin comes out ahead of Illinois on 394 of 799 statistics where one end is better, to 390 with 15 ties. Illinois leads on Travel, Population and Law and 2 more categories. Wisconsin leads on Sports, Geography and Agriculture and 8 more categories.

799 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 15 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Illinois

Wins: 390
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 5

Wisconsin

Wins: 394
Avg. percentile: 53
Categories led: 11

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US states.

Statistic	Illinois	Wisconsin
Population	12,735,249 6th of 51	5,988,406 21st of 51
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$83,390 18th of 51	$77,485 26th of 51
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	4.6% tied 40th of 51	3.2% tied 7th of 51
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	11.8% 26th of 51	10.6% 16th of 51
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	100.0 33rd of 51	94.1 20th of 51
Real Personal Income per Person (2017 Dollars)Real Personal Income by State	$60,333 17th of 51	$58,273 26th of 51
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by State (BLS)	$71,130 16th of 51	$64,270 30th of 51
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)	$1,274 28th of 51	$1,087 19th of 51
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by State (FBI)	251.0 21st of 51	240.3 19th of 51
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)	6,104 32nd of 48	7,528 41st of 48

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

SportsWisconsin · 17 statistics
GeographyWisconsin · 25 statistics
TravelIllinois · 29 statistics
AgricultureWisconsin · 15 statistics
Facts & TriviaWisconsin · 18 statistics
PopulationIllinois · 124 statistics
EducationWisconsin · 51 statistics
EnvironmentWisconsin · 38 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergyWisconsin · 36 statistics
EconomicsWisconsin · 292 statistics
Politics & GovernmentWisconsin · 128 statistics
LawIllinois · 69 statistics
Crime & SafetyWisconsin · 76 statistics
HealthIllinois · 187 statistics
Tech & BusinessIllinois · 48 statistics
CultureWisconsin · 79 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 26 US states.

Statistic	Illinois	Wisconsin
Opportunity and Competition RankBest State To Be a Police Officer	4th 4th of 51	48th 48th of 51
Attractive People RankMost Attractive States	1st 1st of 49	44th 43rd of 49
DUI RateWorst Drivers by State	0.6 per 1k drivers tied 2nd of 51	2.5 per 1k drivers tied 46th of 51
Average Math SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State	473 44th of 51	616 3rd of 51
Average Total SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State	961 44th of 51	1,240 3rd of 51
Difference from National Average SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State	-68 44th of 51	211 3rd of 51
Share of Minimum Wage Workers IncomeChild Care Cost by State	51.6% 42nd of 51	112.4% 2nd of 51
Average EBRW SAT ScoreSAT Scores by State	488 45th of 51	624 tied 5th of 51
Foreclosure RateForeclosure Rates by State	762 1st of 51	2,763 40th of 51
Gini CoefficientWealth Inequality by State	0.48 tied 41st of 51	0.44 tied 3rd of 51
Wasted Instead of ReusedFood Waste by State	42nd 9th best of 50	4th 4th worst of 50
Avg Combined Sales Tax RateInternet Sales Tax by State	8.96% 40th of 47	5.72% 5th of 47
Richest Person AgeRichest Person by State	37 47th of 47	84 tied 11th of 47
Avg. Annual Retirement Income (MZ)Average Retirement Income by State	$31,977 11th of 51	$23,844 49th of 51
Avg. Monthly Retirement Income (MZ)Average Retirement Income by State	$2,665 11th of 51	$1,987 49th of 51
Employment RateEmployment Rate by State	95.6% tied 45th of 51	97.5% tied 8th of 51
Student Loan Average Borrower DebtStudent Loan Debt by State	$37,757 45th of 51	$31,894 7th of 51
State Tax RateMega Millions States	3.75 5th of 38	7.75 33rd of 38
Speeding IncidentsWorst Drivers by State	1.4 per 1k drivers 8th of 51	4.6 per 1k drivers 45th of 51
SSI State Budget Process ScoreMost Corrupt States	57.8 47th of 50	86.5 11th of 50
Obesity Rate - Native American and AlaskanMost Obese States	34.6% 10th of 46	48.2% 43rd of 46
Overall Score (Higher is Better)Best State To Be a Police Officer	60.38 2nd of 51	37.9 38th of 51
Deadliest 10 Miles Deaths 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State	74 42nd of 50	24 7th of 50
Overall Homelessness Help ScoreBest States to Be Homeless	63.15 2nd of 50	42.7 37th of 50
Deadliest 10 Miles Fatal Crashes 2000-2019Deadliest Highway by State	70 tied 41st of 50	24 7th of 50
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by State (Regional Price Parities)	103.8 43rd of 51	94.3 8th of 51
Overall RankFood Waste by State	41st 10th best of 50	7th 7th worst of 50
SocioeconomicsBest States to Raise a Family	45th 45th of 50	11th 11th of 50
Fiscal Stability RankWorst States to Live in	1st worst of 50	33rd 17th best of 50
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by State (BLS)	4.6% tied 40th of 51	3.2% tied 7th of 51

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Illinois or Wisconsin?: Wisconsin comes out ahead of Illinois on 394 of 799 statistics where one end is better, to 390 with 15 ties. Illinois leads on Travel, Population and Law and 2 more categories. Wisconsin leads on Sports, Geography and Agriculture and 8 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Illinois or Wisconsin?: Illinois has a population of 12,735,249 (6th of 51 US states) and Wisconsin has 5,988,406 (21st of 51).
How do Illinois and Wisconsin compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Illinois $83,390 (18th of 51), Wisconsin $77,485 (26th of 51) among US states. Illinois ranks better.
How do Illinois and Wisconsin compare on Unemployment Rate (%)?: Unemployment Rate (%): Illinois 4.6% (tied 40th of 51), Wisconsin 3.2% (tied 7th of 51) among US states. Wisconsin ranks better.
Where does Illinois beat Wisconsin most clearly?: Illinois ranks far ahead on Opportunity and Competition Rank (Best State To Be a Police Officer): 4th vs 48th; Attractive People Rank (Most Attractive States): 1st vs 44th; DUI Rate (Worst Drivers by State): 0.6 per 1k drivers vs 2.5 per 1k drivers.
Where does Wisconsin beat Illinois most clearly?: Wisconsin ranks far ahead on Average Math SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 616 vs 473; Average Total SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 1,240 vs 961; Difference from National Average SAT Score (SAT Scores by State): 211 vs -68.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Illinois or Wisconsin.

All US states matchups