Find a Job You Really Want In
Feeling the pressure of a new job? You’re not alone. Stress levels can be significantly influenced by where you live and work, and certain areas in Illinois face unique challenges that elevate stress levels.
From lengthy commutes to high housing costs and job insecurity, some cities in Illinois experience stress at heightened levels. So, which areas in the Prairie State are the most stressed?
According to recent data, Dolton has been identified as the most stressed place in Illinois, topping the list of the ten most stressed cities:
Read on to discover the factors contributing to stress in these Illinois locales.
For more insights on jobs in Illinois, check out:
How We Measured Stress in Illinois
To assess stress levels, we examined a set of criteria reflecting key stressors for residents in Illinois. Our analysis focused on 340 municipalities with populations over 5,000, using the most recent data sources:
- Percentage of the population with long commutes (over 30 minutes)
- Unemployment rate
- Average hours worked per week
- Population density
- Percentage of income spent on rent
- Percentage of the population without health insurance
The higher the value in these categories, the more stressed the residents are likely to be. Our rankings were derived from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, utilizing the most current data available.
Each city was rated from 1 to 340 based on the above criteria, with the cumulative scores determining the overall Stress Score—the city with the lowest score represents the highest stress level.
1. Dolton
Population: 23,262
People with High Rent: 65.7%
People with Long Commute: 61.2%
People Without Insurance: 19.2%
2. Posen
Population: 5,934
People with High Rent: 80.3%
People with Long Commute: 52.8%
People Without Insurance: 22.0%
3. Calumet Park
Population: 8,189
People with High Rent: 52.9%
People with Long Commute: 56.1%
People Without Insurance: 19.3%
4. Hazel Crest
Population: 14,102
People with High Rent: 69.7%
People with Long Commute: 55.8%
People Without Insurance: 15.2%
5. Cicero
Population: 84,423
People with High Rent: 50.2%
People with Long Commute: 55.2%
People Without Insurance: 26.6%
6. Calumet City
Population: 37,197
People with High Rent: 54.6%
People with Long Commute: 51.4%
People Without Insurance: 18.9%
7. Maywood
Population: 24,148
People with High Rent: 63.6%
People with Long Commute: 43.7%
People Without Insurance: 20.2%
8. South Holland
Population: 22,123
People with High Rent: 69.5%
People with Long Commute: 57.9%
People Without Insurance: 14.4%
9. Blue Island
Population: 23,453
People with High Rent: 59.5%
People with Long Commute: 48.6%
People Without Insurance: 20.1%
10. Chicago
Population: 2,712,608
People with High Rent: 50.0%
People with Long Commute: 55.9%
People Without Insurance: 18.7%
Detailed List of Stressed Places in Illinois
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Dolton | 1 |
| Posen | 2 |
| Calumet Park | 3 |
| Hazel Crest | 4 |
| Cicero | 5 |
| Calumet City | 6 |
| Maywood | 7 |
| South Holland | 8 |
| Blue Island | 9 |
| Chicago | 10 |
Understanding where stress is most prevalent can help residents and policymakers address these issues more effectively. By identifying the factors contributing to stress, we can work towards creating healthier, more supportive communities across Illinois.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
