Oregon to Illinois Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,906 mile interstate move from Oregon to Illinois? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oregon vs Illinois across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher living costs vs lower living costs), food & health (like Dungeness Crab vs Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza), real estate & housing (craftsman vs queen anne), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Dungeness Crab and Grilled Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza & Italian Beef Sandwich
- Illinois housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Oregon
- Rent in Illinois is 0.83% more affordable than in Oregon
- Moving from Oregon to Illinois will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Oregon to Illinois movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Oregon to Illinois Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oregon to Illinois
- Higher living costs
- Volcanic activity
- Frequent rain
- Earthquake risk
- Lower living costs
- Stable geography
- More sunshine
- Less natural disasters
- Flat terrain
- Bitter cold winters
- Less seafood variety
- Less scenic landscapes
- Massive forests
- Mild winters
- Vibrant seafood
- Natural beauty
Pros of moving from Oregon to Illinois
- Say goodbye to higher living costs and hello to lower living costs
- Look forward to moving away from volcanic activity and moving to Illinois with stable geography
- Swap the frequent rain of Oregon for more sunshine in Illinois
- Get ready for fewer natural disasters in Illinois
Cons of moving from Oregon to Illinois
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from massive forests in Oregon to live with flat terrain in Illinois
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of bitter cold winters
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant seafood and get used to less seafood variety in Illinois
- Swap natural beauty for less scenic landscapes
Oregon vs. Illinois: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oregon | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Dungeness Crab | Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Salmon | Italian Beef Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Pok Pok Wings | Chicago-style Hot Dog |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh Reuben | Vegan Deep Dish Pizza |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Oregon to Illinois, you will be trading the iconic Dungeness Crab of Oregon for the equally delicious Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. And while the locals in Oregon rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Pok Pok Wings, Illinois residents know they have tasty Italian Beef Sandwich and Chicago-style Hot Dog to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reuben they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Deep Dish Pizza of Illinois. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oregon eateries like Pok Pok, Heart Coffee Roasters, and Salt & Straw. After the boxes are unpacked in Illinois, don't wait too long before making your way to Illinois' acclaimed eateries like Lou Malnatiβs Pizzeria, Portillo's, and Garrett Popcorn Shops.
When comparing lifestyles, Illinois shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oregon. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Illinois compared to what you are used to in Oregon. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Illinois.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oregon and Illinois
Comparison | Oregon | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Queen Anne |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green space, Eco-friendly features | Proximity to Chicago, Historical features |
- The Craftsman architecture that Oregon is known for will be replaced with the Queen Anne architecture typical of Illinois.
- Compared to Oregon's real estate listings that commonly reference green space and eco-friendly features, Illinois real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to Chicago and historical elements.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Illinois is more walkable than Oregon.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Illinois is less bike-friendly than Oregon.
- Illinois has less of an urban feel than Oregon.
- Illinois housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Oregon, with a median home price of $257,738 compared to Oregonβs $497,946.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Illinois have increased 35% compared to a 39% increase in Oregon.
- Rent in Illinois is 0.83% more affordable than in Oregon.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oregon and Illinois
Comparison | Oregon | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Floods, Earthquakes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Varies, urban areas have poorer quality |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 81Β°F / 51Β°F | 85Β°F / 65Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 35Β°F | 35Β°F / 22Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 43 | 39 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oregon to Illinois. Illinois gets 31% more sunshine days than Oregon.
- Illinois has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oregon.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Oregon, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Illinois.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Illinois is 4 degrees warmer than Oregon.
- The average winter lows in Illinois are 13 degrees colder than they are in Oregon.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Illinois. Illinois receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Oregon.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oregon and Illinois
Comparison | Oregon | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $75,657 | $76,708 |
Cost of Living Index | 110.55 | 94.25 |
State Income Tax | 9.9 | 4.95 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.9 | 2.3 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0 | 8.82 |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Tourism | Manufacturing, Finance, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Considerable |
Poverty | Moderate | Significant |
Homelessness | Visible | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Illinois tend to earn about 1% more than in Oregon
- The COLI in Illinois will be 15% lower than what you are used to living in Oregon
- The state income tax in IL is 4.95 compared to 9.9 in OR
- The affluence in Illinois is considerable compared to moderate affluence in Oregon
- The poverty level is significant in Illinois compared to moderate poverty in Oregon
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Oregon and concerning in Illinois
Political and Religious Climate in Oregon vs. Illinois
Comparison | Oregon | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Mix of progressive urban & conservative rural | Democratic urban centers, Republican rural areas |
Religion | Christianity, unaffiliated | Christianity, unaffiliated |
- Oregon tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Illinois, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Illinois' religious environment can be described as Christianity and unaffiliated
- Oregon's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity and unaffiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Oregon to Illinois
Comparison | Oregon | Illinois |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Northwestern University University of Chicago |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bethany Elementary (Bethany) Findley Elementary (Portland) Oak Creek Elementary (Lake Oswego) | Lincoln Elementary (River Forest) South Park Elementary (Deerfield) Meadow Glens Elementary (Naperville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Stoller Middle School (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Cedar Park Middle School (Beaverton) | Wood Oaks Junior High (Northbrook) Marie Murphy School (Wilmette) Kennedy Junior High (Lisle) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Beaverton High School (Beaverton) Sunset High School (Portland) Lake Oswego High School (Lake Oswego) | Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago) New Trier High School (Winnetka) |
Top 3 private high schools | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) The Delphian School (Sheridan) | University of Chicago Lab School (Chicago) Phillips Academy (Andover) Francis Parker School (Chicago) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Valley Catholic School (Beaverton) Portland Jewish Academy (Portland) Delphian School (Sheridan) | Latin School of Chicago (Chicago) Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) Morgan Park Academy (Chicago) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Oswego School District Beaverton School District Riverdale School District | New Trier Township High School District 205 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Community High School District 128 |
How Much Do Oregon to Illinois Movers Cost?
Moving 1,906 miles from Oregon to Illinois will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: A1 Movers, Inc
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,283 | 300 ft3 | $7.61 |
1 Bedroom | $3,402 | 450 ft3 | $7.56 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,633 | 750 ft3 | $7.51 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,206 | 1100 ft3 | $7.46 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,856 | 1600 ft3 | $7.41 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,248 | 1800 ft3 | $7.36 |
Top Oregon to Illinois Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oregon to Illinois movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for Oregon to Illinois