Illinois 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities
55+ communities in Illinois have many attractive qualities for active adults: national parks with hiking trails, dynamic entertainment options in the third most populous city in the U.S., and a topography ranging from beaches in the north to rolling hills in the south. Throughout its three distinct regions, Illinois is an affordable state that features warm summers and a variety of cultural and historical landmarks.
Illinois Climate & Geography
Illinois is generally divided into three geographic regions: Northern, Central, and Southern Illinois. The Northern and Central sections of Illinois have a humid continental climate featuring hot and humid summers and cold winters. The Southern section of the state has a humid subtropical climate with similar summers but more moderate winters. Snowfall is nearly double in the north than it is in Southern Illinois.
Similar to the climate, the geographic features of Illinois tend to differ throughout the state. Chicago and its suburbs make up a large portion of Northern Illinois, creating an urban and suburban area. The midsection is largely prairie, small towns, and medium-sized cities. It also heavily features corn and soybean fields. Southern Illinois has a more rugged terrain and different crops, including cotton.
Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment in Illinois
A large state with varying terrain, Illinois heavily features outdoor recreation. Starved Rock State Park, one of the most popular hiking destinations in the state, features a waterfall, campgrounds, and scenic views just west of Chicago. Shawnee National Forest in the Ozarks of Southern Illinois is a federally managed land with sandstone that is 320 million years old. It is also the most popular rock climbing destination in the state. Kankakee State Park, south of Chicago, is a 4,000-acre open land along the Kankakee River with hiking, biking, ad snowmobiling trails.
Besides outdoor recreation, Illinois has multiple cultural landmarks. Springfield, the state capital, acts as a shrine to Abraham Lincoln with the Lincoln Tomb and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The city of Chicago is also filled with landmarks including Millennium Park and the Chicago Botanical Gardens, as well as the Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Field Museum.
Illinois Cost of Living & Taxes
Illinois’ cost of living is slightly above the national average, and this is mainly because of transportation. Between the heavy traffic in Chicago and its suburbs and the distances between cities in Central and Southern Illinois, travel and commute times are high. All other indexes, including housing, groceries, utilities, and health care are below average. The exemption to this is housing costs in the Chicago metro area, which are a little bit above average.
Illinois does not tax Social Security or withdrawals from retirement tax. However, property taxes are the second highest in the country at 2.32 percent. There are some exemptions aimed at retirees, including the senior citizen homestead exemption.
Sales taxes are also high, with an average rate of 8.64 percent throughout the state. Unlike many other states, Illinois does tax groceries and medicine, although at a reduced rate of up to 2.25 percent.
Health Care in Illinois
Illinois scores well in the physical ranking of Gallup’s Well-Being Index.
Residents of 55+ communities in Illinois have many options for their health and wellness needs. There are several U.S. News nationally ranked hospitals in the state, with most of them located in the Chicago metro area. Those include Northwestern Memorial Hospital (No. 10 in the U.S.), University of Chicago Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, NorthShore University HealthSystem-Metro Chicago, Loyola University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and AMITA Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. OSF Healthcare St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, in Central Illinois, is also nationally ranked.
Communities Near Illinois
- Illinois (58)
Sun City Huntley
- Mid $200ks - High $600ks
- 5489 Homes (23 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1998 - 2013
-
4.5 Rating (12 Reviews)
Carillon
- Mid $100ks - High $300ks
- 2097 Homes (18 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1989 - 2001
-
4.7 Rating (7 Reviews)
Edgewater
- Mid $300ks - Low $500ks
- 1040 Homes (15 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2005 - 2015
-
4.7 Rating (3 Reviews)
Saddlebrook Farms
- Low $100ks - Mid $300ks
- 2000 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New And Resale Homes
- 1989 - Present
-
3.4 Rating (10 Reviews)
Carillon Lakes
- Mid $200ks - Mid $300ks
- 1113 Homes (7 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2000 - 2007
-
4 Rating (9 Reviews)
Carillon Club
- Mid $300ks - High $700ks
- 778 Homes (4 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2006 - 2017
-
4 Rating (2 Reviews)
Grand Haven
- Mid $200ks - Mid $300ks
- 677 Homes (3 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2002 - 2004
-
3.5 Rating (2 Reviews)
Carillon at Cambridge Lakes
- High $200ks - High $300ks
- 943 Homes (3 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2007 - 2019
-
4.6 Rating (9 Reviews)
Grand Dominion
- Low $300ks - High $600ks
- 725 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2006 - 2014
- Be the first to leave a review!
Lago Vista
- Mid $200ks - High $300ks
- 832 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New And Resale Homes
- 2004 - Present
-
4.1 Rating (8 Reviews)
Lake Barrington Shores
- Low $300ks - High $500ks
- 1317 Homes (4 for sale)
- No Age Restrictions
- Resale Homes Only
- 1974 - 1997
-
3 Rating (1 Review)
Shorewood Glen
- Mid $300ks - High $400ks
- 765 Homes (5 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2004 - 2015
-
5 Rating (2 Reviews)
Rob Roy Country Club Village
- Low $400ks - High $400ks
- 650 Homes (3 for sale)
- No Age Restrictions
- Resale Homes Only
- 1982 - 1997
- Be the first to leave a review!
Lincoln Prairie by Del Webb
- Mid $300ks
- 550 Homes (6 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2021 - Present
- Be the first to leave a review!
The Pines
- Mid $200ks - High $200ks
- 525 Homes (9 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1990 - 2006
-
1 Rating (1 Review)
Cameo
- High $100ks - High $100ks
- 400 Homes (4 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1966 - 1969
- Be the first to leave a review!
Lincoln Valley
- Mid $300ks - High $500ks
- 374 Homes (4 for sale)
- No Age Restrictions
- New Homes Only
- 2019 - Present
- Be the first to leave a review!
Carillon North
- High $200ks - Low $300ks
- 361 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1999 - 2004
-
4.8 Rating (4 Reviews)
Leisure Village
- Low $200ks - Low $200ks
- 360 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1972 - 1980
-
5 Rating (2 Reviews)
Regency at Bowes Creek Country Club
- Mid $400ks - Low $500ks
- 351 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2006 - 2021
- Be the first to leave a review!
Carillon at Stonegate
- Mid $400ks - High $500ks
- 336 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2004 - 2013
-
5 Rating (5 Reviews)
Stonegate West
- Low $300ks - Mid $600ks
- 336 Homes (1 for sale)
- No Age Restrictions
- Resale Homes Only
- 2006 - 2016
- Be the first to leave a review!
The Lakes of Boulder Ridge
- High $500ks - High $700ks
- 242 Homes (1 for sale)
- No Age Restrictions
- New And Resale Homes
- 2005 - Present
- Be the first to leave a review!
Briargate
- Mid $300ks - High $400ks
- 228 Homes (4 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2021 - Present
- Be the first to leave a review!
Steeplechase at Churchill Club
- Low $300ks - Mid $400ks
- 212 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2005 - 2008
- Be the first to leave a review!
Patriot Estates
- High $200ks - Mid $300ks
- 201 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New And Resale Homes
- 2007 - Present
- Be the first to leave a review!
Briarwood Lakes
- Mid $500ks - Low $900ks
- 199 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1970 - 1985
- Be the first to leave a review!
Everleigh Vernon Hills
- 1800s - 4900s
- 187 Apartments
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2020 - 2022
- Be the first to leave a review!
Haverford Place
- High $400ks - Mid $500ks
- 184 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2004 - 2009
- Be the first to leave a review!
Carillon at Heatherstone
- Low $200ks - Low $300ks
- 173 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2003 - 2007
- Be the first to leave a review!