Study: Most Stressful Cities in Illinois

Crowded sidewalks, smog, and other hallmarks of stressful cities may be prevalent in Chicago, but residents of nearby cities would be the first to tell you that life isn't always slow-paced and carefree in their neck of the woods. Less visible stressful problems, like divorce, crime risks, and high housing costs can be much higher in the lesser-known cities of Illinois.

The CreditDonkey team compiled this list of the most stressful cities in Illinois to show that no American city is exempt from the stresses of daily life.

10 Most Stressful Cities in Illinois

Study Methodology

1. Odds of being a victim of violent crime
   
2. Commute time
   
3. Average hours worked per week
   
4. Percentage of divorcees
   
5. Percentage of income spent on housing

In order to find the most stressful cities in Illinois, we first took a look at crime statistics from the FBI to find out some stress-inducing numbers - which cities have the highest violent crime rates. Living in a city with a high crime rate isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be downright dangerous. You can bet that residents of cities with lower crime rates are more relaxed because they don’t have to worry about safety on a daily basis.

Using U.S. Census data, we also studied the amount of time residents spend at the office and commuting to work to assess which cities have a higher incidence of job-related stress. No matter how fulfilling one’s job may be, there’s no better feeling than clocking out after a long workweek. Spending too much time at the office or sitting in traffic can take its toll on your personal life.

Sometimes one’s personal life can be just as stressful as their professional life, especially if it includes a toxic relationship. We looked at the percentage of divorced people to find out which cities have more people who have definitely experienced stressful relationships.

Lastly, we looked at how much residents spend on housing in relation to their annual income. The data we studied is a good indicator of the type of neighborhoods that the city has to offer as well as the types of jobs that are available in the vicinity. Areas where residents are paying more than 30% of their income on housing are either not earning enough or are living beyond their means. Either way, both are a recipe for more stress down the road.

Using the above data, we assigned each city a rank in each of the five categories and then calculated the average of their scores in each category. The 10 most stressful cities in Illinois are the cities that had the highest average because of the combination of stressful factors. Read on to find out which cities in Illinois made the cut.

10. Alton

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 222.4 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 22.9 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 37.5
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 15.4% of males, 16.5% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 25.3%

Alton is located in southern Illinois, just 25 miles north of St. Louis, Mo. Alton was the site of the last Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858 and housed many shelters on the Underground Railroad. Its rich history makes it an ideal destination for Civil War history buffs and antique hunters. With a crime rate of only 1 in 222.4 inhabitants, Alton is a relatively safe city, but its crime rate is still one of the highest on our list. When it comes to work and traffic, locals can breathe easy. They have one of the shortest commutes and shortest workweeks on our list. Unfortunately, Alton made our list because of its high percentage of divorcees. Alton residents may not have much to stress over, but some residents’ marriages may be causing them more harm than good.

Did you know: An historical city like Alton isn’t complete without ghost stories, and Alton is considered one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. Those who are afraid of ghosts should avoid the McPike Mansion, among other haunted landmarks.

9. St. Charles

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 1,850.1 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 29 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.3
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 7.7% of males, 11.3% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 25%

St. Charles is a suburban city that’s a one-hour drive west of Chicago. It was used in the past as a summertime destination for Chicagoans due to its quantity of hotels and picturesque riverfront location. In recent years, it was voted as the #1 best city for families by Family Circle. Despite this city’s reputation as a tourist town and family-friendly suburb, our research has found that residents may experience more stress than meets the eye. While St. Charles is the safest city on our list, residents suffer through a relatively long daily commute and work 38.3 hours a week. They also spend 25% of their income on housing costs, which is enough to earn its place on our list of stressful cities.

Did you know: Al Capone, the infamous Chicago gangster, probably dealt with more stress than the average person. It’s said that he had a hideaway along Route 25 just outside of St. Charles.

8. Harvey

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 72.8 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 30.3 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 35.6
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 10.6% of males, 10.2% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 41.9%

Harvey is a small city 20 miles south of downtown Chicago. It was first founded as a temperance community and attracted new inhabitants with work and home ownership incentives. The city grew to 5,000 people in its first three years, giving it the nickname of “The Magic City.” When Harvey lost its economic base in the latter part of the century, it became the site of race riots, poverty, and abandoned homes. Its violent crime rate is the highest on our list, indicating that safety may be a problem for many residents. Residents spend 41% of their income on housing, which is probably a reflection of residents’ low income rather than high housing costs. The combination of the high percentage spent on housing and the low amount of time spent at work suggests that residents may be stressed over the lack of work, rather than the excess of it.

Did you know: Harvey was the site of a stressful 20-hour standoff between police and two men who took eight people hostage on August 19, 2014. Luckily, SWAT teams were able to rescue all eight hostages unharmed.

7. Elgin

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 424.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 28.3 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.1
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 7.9% of males, 10.5% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 28.2%

Elgin is a suburb in Kane County just 40 miles northwest of Chicago. In the past, Elgin was known for its dairy industry and the Elgin Watch Co. It’s currently one of the fastest growing cities in Kane County, as shown by its recent ranking as the #1 city for new home starts in a study done by Metrostudy. Although its downtown is undergoing renovations to revitalize its image, Elgin still can’t shake its bad reputation among neighboring communities. In terms of violent crime, Elgin is safe, but many locals cite property crimes as an issue. Locals also work relatively long hours and spend 28.2% of their income on housing, which is more than many cities on our list. It must be stressful for Elgin residents to work hard and see a large percentage of their paycheck go towards housing each month.

Did you know: Students of Elgin High School probably feel the pressure when comparing themselves to past graduates. Past alumni include a Nobel Prize winner, an Olympic athlete, a best-selling author, Academy Award winning producers, and professional athletes.

6. Aurora

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 354.8 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 29 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.5
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 7.2% of males, 10% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 27.2%

Aurora is a city west of Chicago that began as a small family settlement and grew into a prominent manufacturing city. It’s currently the second most populous city in Illinois with 199,932 residents. Aurora currently spans four different counties, and in a city so large, neighborhoods can vary from safe to slightly dangerous. In general, Aurora’s crime rate is relatively low, which is good news for would-be residents. However, residents commute nearly 30 minutes each morning to get to work and then spend a total of 38.5 hours working each week. Locals devote a large amount of time to their jobs, and it must take its toll on their stress levels and personal life.

Did you know: If Aurora residents are in need of a comedic break from their daily stress, they can watch Wayne’s World, which took place in Aurora.

5. Joliet

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 293.4 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 31.4 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.1
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 8.5% of males, 10.8% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 26.2%

Joliet, a commuter city 45 miles away from Chicago, is the county seat of Will County. Its proximity to the Des Plaines River and two major highways makes it an important transportation hub for the state of Illinois. Because many residents live in Joliet and commute to other cities for work, their daily commute is higher than average and totals more than one hour a day. Locals work longer hours than residents of other cities on our list, and its crime rate is also higher than that of other cities. In short, safety and work-related stress are probably major concerns for residents of “The City of Champions.”

Did you know: Although gluttony is never a good thing, ice cream can do wonders for stress levels. Joliet was the home of the first Dairy Queen in 1906.

4. Crystal Lake

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 657.8 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 32.9 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.3
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 7.7% of males, 11.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 24.1%

The city of Crystal Lake sits on the shore of the 238-acre lake by the same name in northeast Illinois. In the first part of the 20th century, Crystal Lake was a popular vacation destination and its shore was lined with resorts, boarding houses, and vacation homes. It continues to be a highly desirable area to live, as its population has more than doubled since 1980. However, the tradeoff for living in a quaint and scenic city has its price. Residents endure the second-longest daily commute on our list. In addition to spending more than an hour in traffic daily, they also work 38.3 hours a week. It’s a good thing that Crystal Lake has ample opportunities for relaxation, because Crystal Lake residents probably need a break from their daily grind.

Did you know: No matter how stressful life may be, somebody always has it worse. The tradition of anonymously dropping a gold coin in the Salvation Army’s donation kettle began in Crystal Lake in 1982. Since then, people have anonymously given rare coins, diamond rings, and checks for as high as $14,845.

3. Highland Park

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 830.4 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 29.9 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 39.3
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 7.9% of males, 9.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 24%

Highland Park is a suburb in the Chicago Metropolitan Area on Lake Michigan. Although Highland Park is a family-oriented suburb, artists and musicians would feel right at home. Prominent architects, such as Jens Jensen, have built homes and community projects that are on the National Register of Historic Places. The village of Ravinia was also known as an artist enclave and hosts the annual Ravinia Festival, the oldest outdoor music festival in the US. Highland Park is also known as a safe locale and residents spend a low percentage of their income on housing, making it a desirable location. However, locals work nearly 40 hours a week, more than any other city on our list. Highland Park residents may live in a coveted area, but they pay for it with their time and labor.

Did you know: Everybody has had a day where they wanted to call in sick and take a break from the stress of daily life, like the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Many of the scenes from the movie were shot in Highland Park.

2. Lockport

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 1,666.6 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 33.1 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 39.2
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 9.1% of males, 7.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 25.6%

People outside of Illinois may not be familiar with the city of Lockport, but the historic city was the headquarters for the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which was instrumental in the development of Chicago and the entire Midwest. Lockport is a quaint city with a small population and a low crime rate. Despite its small size, Lockport has a lot in common with bigger metropolitan cities when it comes to stress. Lockport residents suffer through the longest commute than any other city in our study. Lockport is also the second hardest-working city on our list, as shown by the 39.2 hours that residents work weekly. Lockport may exhibit the small-town charm of a typical Midwest city, but residents still experience big-city stress when it comes to traffic and their professional lives.

Did you know: If you’re looking to unwind at a local bar in Lockport, beware of tigers. A local man took his pet tiger for a walk and made a stop at Uncle Ritchie’s Bar, where patrons complained about their safety. The tiger owner is currently facing misdemeanor charges for reckless conduct and possession of a dangerous animal.

1. Woodstock

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 670.2 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 28.4 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.7
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 8.8% of males, 16.4% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 28.5%

Not to be confused with the music festival that took place in Bethel, N.Y., Woodstock is a small city northwest of Chicago in McHenry County. Like many of the cities in our study, Woodstock is a city that is rich in tradition and history. Residents take pride in the historic Woodstock Square and annual traditions, like its Groundhog Day celebration and Woodstock Folk Festival. At first glance, Woodstock seems like an idyllic place to live, but our data tells a different story. Although it is definitely a safe city, residents work 38.7 hours a week, which is a more taxing work schedule than residents of other cities on our list. The high percentage of divorced women indicates that some locals have experienced extreme stress in their romantic lives. Lastly, the large percentage of income that locals spend on housing probably adds to residents’ money worries. Tension from work, a lack of money, and a problematic marriage make life much more stressful for Woodstock locals.

Did you know: Working long hours is bound to be stressful, but it’s made worse when one isn’t receiving fair compensation. Eugene V. Debs, the famous labor activist, was held at the historic Old McHenry County Courthouse and jail in Woodstock because he wouldn’t comply with a court injunction related to a well-known railroad strike.

As our study demonstrates, stress isn’t just a big city problem. Many of the cities that topped our list had populations below 50,000. If Illinois truly is a microcosm of the U.S., then it’s safe to assume that residents in even the smallest of towns feel the pressure of job stress, traffic, failed marriages, and high housing costs. The most one can do is inform themselves about their hometown and develop coping mechanisms for whatever life throws their way.