These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Illinois

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America has been known as the land of opportunity for as long as I can remember. Itâs the one place in the world where if you bare down and keep your nose to the grindstone, you can make a better life for your family and yourself.

And while everyone in Illinois works hard, thereâs a certain part of the Prairie State that takes the Puritan work ethic to the extreme â the hardest working places in Illinois .

Whoâs the leader of this work around the clock ethos? That would be Gilberts which takes top honors for the hardest working place in Illinois. People work so hard there they manage to make getting to work a job.

So what other places burn the midnight oil to bring home a large piece of bacon? Youâre going to have to get to the office early and stay late on Fridays to beat out these places in Illinois for a promotion:

So listen up Centreville as we explain how we created this ranking, you could learn some things from the rest of the state.

For more IL reading, check out:

How We Determined The Hardest Working Places In The Prairie State

Like all problems here at Zippia, we start with the data to answer the hard questions. Some might even consider us the hardest working data-crunchers this side of the Mississippi.

In this particular case, we went to the latest version of the American Community Survey looking for answers. As luck would have it, the Census Bureau just released the 2009-2014 5-Yr Estimate which would make this analysis the first of its kind with the new data.

After scrolling through what seemed like hundreds of criteria, we settled on this set for each State:

Average hours worked
Average commute time
Workers per household (Employed labor force divided by the number households)
Labor force participation rate
Adults with a college degree

Our thinking went something along the lines of if you are spent the many years getting a degree, are actively seeking employment, work a ton of hours when employed, and spend forever getting to work, you get the Zippia hardworking stamp of approval.

After we got the data for all 340 places in Illinois, we ranked each place from 1 to 340 for each of the criteria with 1 being the âhardest workingâ.

Next, we averaged the rankings for each to create a hardworking index.

Finally, we crowned the place with the lowest hard working index the âHardest Working Place In Illinoisâ. And, at the end of the day, Gilberts had its hard work pay off.

Read the detailed chart below to learn a bit more about why each place ranked where it did.

1. Gilberts

Source: Flickr

Population: 7,256College Graduates: 42.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.8
Workers Per Household: 1.9

2. Plainfield

Population: 40,641College Graduates: 48.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.0
Workers Per Household: 1.8

3. Long Grove

Population: 8,017College Graduates: 66.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 41.4
Workers Per Household: 1.8

4. Oswego

Population: 31,723College Graduates: 44.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.5
Workers Per Household: 1.7

5. Grayslake

Population: 20,863College Graduates: 50.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.9
Workers Per Household: 1.6

6. Campton Hills

Population: 10,908College Graduates: 53.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.0
Workers Per Household: 1.6

7. Lake Zurich

Population: 19,849College Graduates: 53.9%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.8
Workers Per Household: 1.7

8. Round Lake

Population: 18,399College Graduates: 37.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.9
Workers Per Household: 1.7

9. Sugar Grove

Population: 9,096College Graduates: 38.0%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.1
Workers Per Household: 1.7

10. Hoffman Estates

Population: 52,271College Graduates: 45.9%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.9
Workers Per Household: 1.7

Detailed List Of Hardest Working Places In Illinois

City	Rank	Population	College Graduates	Average Hours Worked Per Week	Workers Per Household
Gilberts	1	7,256	42.3%	40.8	1.9
Plainfield	2	40,641	48.8%	40.0	1.8
Long Grove	3	8,017	66.4%	41.4	1.8
Oswego	4	31,723	44.1%	38.5	1.7
Grayslake	5	20,863	50.8%	37.9	1.6
Campton Hills	6	10,908	53.6%	39.0	1.6
Lake Zurich	7	19,849	53.9%	38.8	1.7
Round Lake	8	18,399	37.2%	39.9	1.7
Sugar Grove	9	9,096	38.0%	40.1	1.7
Hoffman Estates	10	52,271	45.9%	38.9	1.7
Shiloh	11	12,706	41.3%	41.3	1.6
Normal	12	54,082	51.5%	32.6	1.6
Western Springs	13	13,066	76.8%	39.4	1.4
Naperville	14	144,108	66.1%	38.8	1.6
Hampshire	15	6,053	25.4%	40.5	1.7
West Dundee	16	7,367	48.0%	39.1	1.5
New Lenox	17	24,747	39.1%	38.6	1.6
Hawthorn Woods	18	7,727	63.8%	41.1	1.6
South Elgin	19	22,126	35.0%	39.3	1.7
Vernon Hills	20	25,535	59.6%	39.5	1.5
Bartlett	21	41,529	43.7%	38.9	1.7
Glencoe	22	8,824	85.3%	42.2	1.3
St. Charles	23	33,422	48.8%	38.4	1.4
Buffalo Grove	24	41,613	63.7%	39.7	1.5
Deerfield	25	18,476	75.2%	38.1	1.5
Edwardsville	26	24,464	52.0%	35.3	1.5
Frankfort	27	18,100	53.9%	39.2	1.6
Mahomet	28	7,592	51.3%	38.3	1.4
River Forest	29	11,211	72.3%	38.2	1.4
Lincolnwood	30	12,653	55.2%	37.8	1.5
Libertyville	31	20,398	64.7%	38.9	1.4
Cary	32	18,115	47.1%	38.1	1.8
Mokena	33	18,804	37.8%	37.9	1.7
Winnetka	34	12,366	87.4%	41.6	1.3
Yorkville	35	17,980	33.0%	39.7	1.6
Chatham	36	12,131	44.2%	37.7	1.5
Wilmette	37	27,345	81.1%	39.3	1.3
Pingree Grove	38	5,062	31.6%	40.7	1.8
Wheaton	39	53,406	61.1%	37.0	1.5
Homer Glen	40	24,322	35.4%	38.6	1.6
Itasca	41	8,579	39.0%	39.7	1.5
Crystal Lake	42	40,598	40.4%	38.0	1.6
Hinsdale	43	16,898	77.2%	41.9	1.3
Clarendon Hills	44	8,548	73.3%	40.4	1.2
Burr Ridge	45	10,678	68.5%	40.6	1.3
Channahon	46	12,422	24.2%	39.1	1.8
Wheeling	47	37,886	35.9%	38.4	1.6
Park Ridge	48	37,511	54.0%	38.9	1.3
Glen Carbon	49	13,095	49.4%	37.2	1.4
Glenview	50	45,400	61.1%	39.7	1.3
Geneva	51	21,662	56.4%	37.3	1.5
North Aurora	52	16,927	38.9%	38.3	1.7
Northbrook	53	33,396	68.9%	39.3	1.3
Schaumburg	54	74,560	44.8%	39.2	1.4
Manhattan	55	7,017	34.5%	39.3	1.6
Johnsburg	56	6,322	32.0%	39.8	1.8
Palatine	57	69,015	48.5%	39.0	1.5
Roselle	58	22,951	37.1%	37.6	1.6
Woodridge	59	33,227	47.3%	39.1	1.6
Montgomery	60	18,780	28.7%	39.1	1.7
La Grange	61	15,675	59.8%	39.2	1.4
Elmhurst	62	45,105	57.7%	38.2	1.4
Mount Prospect	63	54,589	38.0%	38.8	1.5
Tinley Park	64	57,099	34.9%	37.7	1.5
Lake Bluff	65	5,867	79.9%	38.8	1.3
Bolingbrook	66	74,112	34.5%	37.9	1.8
Gurnee	67	31,182	47.4%	38.9	1.5
Downers Grove	68	49,372	53.4%	38.3	1.4
Wauconda	69	13,189	35.2%	39.1	1.5
Lisle	70	22,626	54.1%	38.9	1.4
Riverside	71	8,915	59.7%	39.8	1.4
Carol Stream	72	40,136	37.7%	38.5	1.7
Savoy	73	7,835	61.4%	35.8	1.2
Arlington Heights	74	75,577	54.0%	38.6	1.4
Antioch	75	14,395	32.5%	39.4	1.5
Algonquin	76	30,189	44.4%	39.9	1.7
Flossmoor	77	9,339	62.3%	38.3	1.4
Brookfield	78	19,022	35.2%	37.3	1.5
Northfield	79	5,332	75.4%	38.5	1.2
Carterville	80	5,635	36.1%	37.1	1.4
Batavia	81	25,905	50.9%	38.7	1.5
Lindenhurst	82	14,412	47.1%	38.9	1.6
Bloomington	83	77,883	45.2%	37.5	1.4
Washington	84	15,525	38.2%	38.7	1.3
Minooka	85	11,225	28.0%	39.5	1.7
Lemont	86	16,376	39.6%	38.2	1.5
Highland Park	87	29,819	69.5%	39.9	1.3
Elk Grove Village	88	33,288	36.4%	38.1	1.4
Mundelein	89	31,498	41.3%	38.5	1.7
Sycamore	90	17,473	38.5%	37.9	1.5
Warrenville	91	13,361	41.1%	37.6	1.7
Morton	92	16,493	43.6%	38.0	1.3
Des Plaines	93	58,802	35.2%	38.4	1.4
Mount Zion	94	5,830	37.1%	38.9	1.4
Shorewood	95	16,186	38.1%	37.8	1.6
Oak Brook	96	7,967	64.8%	39.2	1.1
Lake Villa	97	8,860	44.7%	39.1	1.5
Lake Forest	98	18,914	75.2%	38.9	1.2
Inverness	99	7,516	65.1%	41.8	1.3
Lake in the Hills	100	28,926	31.3%	39.9	1.7
Streamwood	101	40,746	31.2%	38.7	1.8
Swansea	102	13,870	36.2%	38.0	1.4
Auburn	103	5,004	20.1%	39.8	1.5
Winfield	104	9,368	50.4%	39.0	1.5
Waterloo	105	10,102	24.9%	38.5	1.4
Prospect Heights	106	16,344	35.4%	39.2	1.4
Barrington	107	10,830	63.7%	38.2	1.4
Oak Park	108	51,988	67.1%	39.5	1.4
Orland Park	109	57,802	41.3%	38.9	1.4
Urbana	110	41,760	53.6%	30.6	1.4
Bloomingdale	111	22,208	36.7%	39.4	1.4
Roscoe	112	10,724	28.4%	38.6	1.5
Monee	113	5,133	26.3%	38.4	1.4
Evanston	114	75,282	66.4%	36.9	1.4
Monticello	115	5,400	38.4%	39.9	1.3
Skokie	116	65,056	46.9%	38.0	1.5
Poplar Grove	117	5,498	19.1%	39.6	1.5
Maryville	118	7,727	44.0%	38.3	1.4
Romeoville	119	39,675	25.4%	37.5	1.7
Villa Park	120	22,073	34.3%	37.9	1.6
Aurora	121	199,878	31.2%	38.5	1.7
Lombard	122	43,853	42.5%	37.9	1.4
Lockport	123	25,063	33.3%	39.1	1.6
Champaign	124	82,848	50.3%	34.2	1.4
Fairview Heights	125	17,250	32.2%	37.6	1.3
Morton Grove	126	23,424	43.7%	37.5	1.4
Orland Hills	127	7,252	30.4%	36.5	1.8
Columbia	128	9,889	34.3%	38.2	1.4
Glendale Heights	129	34,436	29.0%	38.1	1.8
La Grange Park	130	13,624	48.3%	38.6	1.3
Beach Park	131	13,851	22.9%	38.5	1.7
Spring Grove	132	5,390	28.0%	40.4	1.5
West Chicago	133	27,416	24.7%	37.6	1.9
Troy	134	9,931	22.7%	37.6	1.5
OâFallon	135	29,100	48.8%	38.4	1.4
Glen Ellyn	136	27,394	61.4%	39.5	1.4
Elburn	137	5,733	36.1%	40.2	1.7
Bensenville	138	18,457	17.5%	38.3	1.7
Bourbonnais	139	18,641	26.8%	35.7	1.5
Willow Springs	140	5,692	38.9%	38.9	1.4
Hanover Park	141	38,302	21.7%	37.5	1.9
Geneseo	142	6,500	25.8%	37.9	1.2
Crete	143	8,284	36.7%	36.1	1.4
Lakemoor	144	6,576	22.7%	39.4	1.7
Elgin	145	110,906	24.0%	37.9	1.7
Homewood	146	19,642	44.3%	37.1	1.5
Lincolnshire	147	7,270	68.8%	40.9	1.0
Berkeley	148	5,219	27.8%	39.3	1.6
Darien	149	22,251	46.3%	38.2	1.3
Carpentersville	150	38,128	20.9%	39.1	1.8
Island Lake	151	8,033	24.1%	37.7	1.6
Highland	152	9,738	25.9%	38.8	1.3
Rolling Meadows	153	23,646	30.6%	38.4	1.5
Rockton	154	7,461	29.4%	38.7	1.5
Highwood	155	5,400	32.6%	38.3	1.5
Manteno	156	9,585	28.4%	38.0	1.3
DeKalb	157	44,092	35.0%	32.5	1.6
Joliet	158	147,786	23.4%	38.2	1.6
Huntley	159	25,200	35.0%	39.0	1.0
Round Lake Beach	160	28,048	15.3%	38.2	1.8
Westchester	161	16,786	32.2%	38.1	1.3
Countryside	162	5,974	26.8%	36.9	1.3
Willowbrook	163	8,607	47.0%	41.8	1.2
Oak Forest	164	28,104	25.5%	37.7	1.6
Northlake	165	12,368	11.7%	38.7	1.8
Winthrop Harbor	166	6,744	24.1%	37.2	1.6
Woodstock	167	25,121	28.2%	38.1	1.5
Franklin Park	168	18,389	15.9%	38.4	1.7
Matteson	169	19,097	34.2%	38.2	1.5
Norridge	170	14,713	21.7%	38.1	1.3
Evergreen Park	171	19,924	33.1%	37.2	1.5
Plano	172	11,371	18.6%	39.1	1.7
Elmwood Park	173	24,960	26.0%	37.7	1.5
Westmont	174	25,236	42.8%	38.2	1.3
Addison	175	37,215	20.8%	39.1	1.6
North Chicago	176	30,760	19.4%	47.0	2.8
Wood Dale	177	13,882	20.9%	38.4	1.4
Belleville	178	43,296	23.0%	38.0	1.3
Bradley	179	15,822	18.2%	38.2	1.4
Niles	180	29,939	28.5%	38.3	1.2
McHenry	181	26,803	24.8%	38.1	1.5
Godfrey	182	17,911	27.0%	38.7	1.2
Morris	183	13,929	24.1%	38.5	1.3
South Beloit	184	8,129	17.3%	40.1	1.5
Palos Heights	185	12,572	43.4%	37.4	1.3
Eureka	186	5,638	32.0%	35.7	1.4
Hickory Hills	187	14,117	25.1%	37.4	1.5
Berwyn	188	56,762	20.3%	37.7	1.6
Waukegan	189	88,671	18.7%	38.4	1.6
Charleston	190	22,065	32.5%	31.4	1.5
Lyons	191	10,667	16.7%	38.2	1.5
Schiller Park	192	11,842	20.3%	38.1	1.5
Mascoutah	193	7,675	25.7%	37.0	1.4
South Holland	194	22,123	28.2%	37.4	1.5
Chicago	195	2,712,608	34.9%	38.5	1.4
River Grove	196	10,268	19.6%	38.6	1.4
Sandwich	197	7,513	15.2%	37.3	1.6
Moline	198	43,087	25.5%	38.1	1.2
Richton Park	199	13,718	32.1%	38.2	1.5
Forest Park	200	14,202	43.7%	38.6	1.3
Stickney	201	6,810	9.1%	41.0	1.4
Lynwood	202	9,260	32.9%	35.1	1.5
Country Club Hills	203	16,752	31.6%	39.7	1.4
Carbondale	204	26,374	46.0%	28.9	1.3
East Peoria	205	23,225	19.9%	38.2	1.2
Palos Hills	206	17,584	21.4%	37.2	1.3
Hillside	207	8,192	22.5%	38.8	1.4
Justice	208	13,001	15.5%	39.3	1.6
Macomb	209	19,193	44.8%	31.0	1.3
Colona	210	5,057	8.8%	37.9	1.4
Harwood Heights	211	8,656	25.3%	37.8	1.3
Effingham	212	12,428	21.5%	38.6	1.2
Silvis	213	7,525	16.8%	37.0	1.2
Peoria Heights	214	6,056	24.8%	37.9	1.3
Oak Lawn	215	56,969	26.7%	38.4	1.4
Springfield	216	116,815	34.9%	37.1	1.2
Coal City	217	5,460	18.6%	38.9	1.5
Midlothian	218	14,901	18.7%	37.6	1.6
Bethalto	219	9,443	21.4%	37.9	1.3
Olympia Fields	220	5,022	49.7%	38.6	1.2
Marengo	221	7,451	17.2%	39.6	1.6
Burbank	222	29,097	12.3%	37.8	1.6
Marion	223	17,353	26.0%	38.0	1.1
Quincy	224	40,782	22.0%	38.0	1.2
Carlinville	225	5,615	23.2%	37.0	1.3
Melrose Park	226	25,514	10.4%	37.5	1.7
Loves Park	227	24,435	21.8%	37.9	1.4
Collinsville	228	25,282	26.7%	37.2	1.3
Summit	229	11,367	12.6%	36.7	1.8
North Riverside	230	6,940	22.1%	38.0	1.3
Bellwood	231	19,149	14.7%	36.5	1.7
Shelbyville	232	5,211	15.7%	39.7	1.0
Harvard	233	9,829	8.9%	37.6	1.7
Peoria	234	115,718	33.1%	36.9	1.2
Alsip	235	19,385	15.2%	37.3	1.5
Vandalia	236	6,247	17.1%	38.0	1.3
Cicero	237	84,423	7.6%	37.6	1.8
Jacksonville	238	19,315	22.2%	36.0	1.3
Machesney Park	239	23,180	14.3%	38.9	1.5
Dolton	240	23,262	17.6%	36.1	1.6
Salem	241	7,135	15.2%	38.5	1.1
Chillicothe	242	6,181	18.6%	37.5	1.2
Herrin	243	12,721	24.4%	38.3	1.2
Rock Island	244	38,888	21.9%	35.7	1.2
Chicago Ridge	245	14,410	17.1%	38.0	1.4
Crest Hill	246	20,444	16.7%	39.2	1.2
Pekin	247	33,928	18.6%	37.6	1.2
Olney	248	8,997	23.1%	38.1	1.0
Creve Coeur	249	5,717	7.1%	36.9	1.4
Lansing	250	28,486	19.3%	37.3	1.4
Bridgeview	251	16,550	14.4%	39.2	1.4
Park Forest	252	22,490	27.2%	36.5	1.3
Zion	253	24,292	15.9%	38.2	1.5
Glenwood	254	9,040	26.0%	38.3	1.3
Greenville	255	6,860	23.1%	34.4	1.2
Pontoon Beach	256	5,804	12.5%	37.2	1.4
LaSalle	257	9,537	16.3%	38.4	1.3
Sterling	258	15,208	15.4%	37.7	1.3
Worth	259	10,827	13.5%	37.9	1.5
Litchfield	260	6,913	13.1%	37.5	0.9
Crestwood	261	11,006	22.6%	37.6	1.2
Hazel Crest	262	14,102	22.5%	37.7	1.3
Princeton	263	7,698	19.7%	38.3	1.1
Dixon	264	14,963	17.3%	38.6	1.2
Fox Lake	265	10,757	19.1%	38.3	1.3
Wilmington	266	5,934	16.3%	37.8	1.3
Monmouth	267	9,565	18.9%	35.3	1.4
Park City	268	7,551	10.3%	40.4	1.5
Jerseyville	269	8,305	13.5%	38.4	1.2
Genoa	270	5,716	10.4%	38.9	1.5
Hillsboro	271	8,371	9.6%	38.1	1.1
Lincoln	272	14,382	18.9%	37.3	1.0
Carmi	273	5,307	13.5%	39.2	1.0
Mount Carmel	274	7,155	18.4%	38.1	1.2
Belvidere	275	25,713	12.2%	38.7	1.5
Taylorville	276	11,761	14.8%	37.7	1.2
Flora	277	5,045	15.5%	39.8	1.1
Mendota	278	7,161	13.5%	38.6	1.3
Maywood	279	24,148	13.4%	36.6	1.5
Ottawa	280	18,992	18.3%	38.2	1.3
Calumet Park	281	8,189	15.1%	36.6	1.5
Blue Island	282	23,453	15.2%	36.2	1.4
Broadview	283	7,956	18.0%	37.6	1.4
Pontiac	284	12,012	15.2%	37.2	1.1
University Park	285	6,852	23.6%	37.7	1.2
Rochelle	286	9,492	19.5%	37.6	1.3
Bartonville	287	6,440	11.4%	38.2	1.2
Peru	288	10,172	20.4%	36.8	1.2
Sauk Village	289	10,545	11.3%	38.5	1.5
Canton	290	14,650	17.7%	38.0	1.1
Spring Valley	291	5,441	17.5%	38.7	1.3
East Alton	292	6,231	10.4%	36.2	1.2
Rantoul	293	13,214	14.9%	37.6	1.3
Chester	294	8,495	6.1%	40.1	1.1
Kewanee	295	12,694	14.0%	38.5	1.1
Rockford	296	151,290	21.0%	37.4	1.2
Pana	297	5,601	7.3%	37.8	1.0
Round Lake Park	298	7,758	11.9%	35.7	1.2
East Moline	299	21,294	17.3%	37.4	1.1
Chicago Heights	300	30,410	14.2%	37.0	1.4
Posen	301	5,934	8.4%	38.6	1.5
Decatur	302	75,088	21.0%	37.0	1.2
Braidwood	303	6,191	10.3%	38.2	1.4
Beardstown	304	6,336	11.7%	38.8	1.4
Fairfield	305	5,080	11.7%	39.8	1.0
Calumet City	306	37,197	15.8%	36.3	1.3
Mattoon	307	17,906	16.3%	38.0	1.2
Riverdale	308	13,278	13.8%	37.8	1.3
Steger	309	9,569	13.8%	39.0	1.2
Murphysboro	310	8,189	21.3%	36.2	1.0
Clinton	311	6,931	13.7%	39.5	1.2
Wood River	312	10,477	14.7%	36.1	1.1
Benton	313	7,185	18.3%	36.3	1.1
Galesburg	314	31,898	16.4%	36.2	1.0
Granite City	315	29,764	13.3%	37.6	1.1
Alton	316	27,517	17.6%	38.0	1.1
Mount Vernon	317	15,069	17.2%	37.8	1.1
Robinson	318	7,264	17.0%	37.4	1.1
Milan	319	5,122	13.7%	37.9	1.1
Paris	320	8,702	17.0%	40.2	1.1
Freeport	321	25,225	17.0%	36.9	1.2
Metropolis	322	6,466	14.8%	38.0	1.0
Pinckneyville	323	5,600	15.1%	37.3	1.1
Kankakee	324	27,145	11.3%	36.8	1.2
Danville	325	32,483	15.3%	37.1	1.1
Markham	326	12,625	14.2%	37.0	1.2
Centralia	327	12,880	15.3%	39.3	1.0
Streator	328	13,152	11.6%	36.9	1.2
Cahokia	329	14,905	7.3%	38.0	1.2
Hoopeston	330	5,474	9.8%	39.0	1.1
Du Quoin	331	6,012	12.7%	37.7	1.0
Watseka	332	5,463	12.4%	37.6	1.1
Harrisburg	333	8,989	13.8%	38.1	1.0
Sumner	334	5,556	2.3%	39.4	1.0
Harvey	335	25,225	9.2%	36.9	1.2
West Frankfort	336	8,247	8.4%	39.1	1.0
Rock Falls	337	9,111	10.0%	38.1	1.1
Robbins	338	5,221	9.1%	34.1	1.1
East St. Louis	339	26,697	8.0%	35.5	0.9
Centreville	340	5,208	7.9%	35.5	0.8

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Author

Chris Kolmar

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.

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