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.
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)
Carillon at Heatherstone
- Low $100ks - Low $300ks
- 173 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2003 - 2007
- 1 reviews
Regency at The Woods of South Barrington
- High $500ks - Mid $800ks
- 156 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2005 - 2021
- 13 reviews
Liberty Green
- High $300ks - Low $500ks
- 155 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2019 - 2022
- No Reviews
Avidor Evanston
- 152 Apartments
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- No Reviews
Everleigh Naperville
- 146 Apartments
- 62+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2018 - 2020
- No Reviews
Andaré at Glenloch
- Mid $200ks - High $300ks
- 143 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2017 - 2021
- No Reviews
Grand Reserve Algonquin
- Mid $300ks - Mid $400ks
- 128 Homes (3 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New And Resale Homes
- 2005 - Present
- No Reviews
Timbers Edge Villas
- Low $200ks - High $200ks
- 117 Homes
- No Age Restrictions
- Resale Homes Only
- 2002 - 2008
- 1 reviews
Andaré at Woodlore Estates
- Mid $300ks - Mid $400ks
- 105 Homes (5 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2019 - Present
- No Reviews
Ashwood Crossing
- Low $400ks - Low $600ks
- 103 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2017 - 2020
- No Reviews
Andaré at Talamore
- Low $300ks - Low $400ks
- 102 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2012 - 2023
- 2 reviews
Old Mill Park
- High $300ks - Low $500ks
- 100 Homes (1 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2019 - Present
- No Reviews
River Run Club
- Low $200ks - Low $300ks
- 100 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1999 - 2002
- No Reviews
Somerset Farms
- Low $200ks - High $200ks
- 96 Homes (2 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2006 - 2018
- No Reviews
Chatham Grove
- Low $200ks - Low $300ks
- 96 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2000 - 2005
- No Reviews
Meadowridge Villas
- Low $300ks - High $300ks
- 96 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2006 - 2018
- No Reviews
Riverbend
- High $200ks - Mid $300ks
- 92 Homes (3 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2019 - Present
- No Reviews
Andaré at Remington Pointe North
- Low $300ks - Low $400ks
- 89 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2017 - 2023
- No Reviews
Trillium Farm
- High $300ks
- 84 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- New Homes Only
- 2020 - Present
- No Reviews
Bradford Place Clubs
- Mid $100ks - Mid $200ks
- 79 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2004 - 2005
- No Reviews
Forest Gate
- Low $900ks - Mid $1Ms
- 78 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2000 - 2016
- 1 reviews
Heritage Club Villas
- High $200ks - Mid $300ks
- 76 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2001 - 2002
- No Reviews
Hampton Park
- Low $400ks - Low $500ks
- 62 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2005 - 2008
- 1 reviews
Forest Glen
- Mid $200ks - Low $300ks
- 59 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2003 - 2008
- No Reviews
Park Place on the Green
- High $100ks - High $200ks
- 55 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 1999 - 2004
- No Reviews
Wentworth of Kildeer
- Low $500ks - High $600ks
- 55 Homes
- Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2019 - 2023
- No Reviews
Victoria Park
- Low $300ks - Low $400ks
- 52 Homes (2 for sale)
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2004 - 2018
- No Reviews
River Crossing
- High $100ks - High $200ks
- 45 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2007 - 2008
- No Reviews
Hobson Villas
- Mid $600ks - Mid $700ks
- 42 Homes
- 55+ Age Restriction
- Resale Homes Only
- 2004 - 2005
- 1 reviews