Least Dense in Illinois

Top 100 cities ranked by least dense

Least Dense - Illinois

1 Godfrey 516/mi²
2 Pontoon Beach 615/mi²
3 Campton Hills 635/mi²
4 Spring Grove 648/mi²
5 Hillsboro 652/mi²
6 University Park 663/mi²
7 Long Grove 667/mi²
8 South Barrington 671/mi²
9 Rochelle 689/mi²
10 LaSalle 702/mi²
11 Bartonville 727/mi²
12 Vandalia 741/mi²
13 Spring Valley 743/mi²
14 Litchfield 760/mi²
15 Marengo 800/mi²
16 Milan 805/mi²
17 Du Quoin 828/mi²
18 Hampshire 834/mi²
19 Channahon 837/mi²
20 Johnsburg 879/mi²
21 Sugar Grove 879/mi²
22 Crete 887/mi²
23 Coal City 892/mi²
24 Mascoutah 907/mi²
25 Lake Barrington 941/mi²
26 Willowbrook 943/mi²
27 Princeton 950/mi²
28 Peru 956/mi²
29 Metropolis 980/mi²
30 Mount Vernon 989/mi²
31 Mahomet 1,004/mi²
32 Oak Brook 1,006/mi²
33 Columbia 1,049/mi²
34 Salem 1,050/mi²
35 Roscoe 1,059/mi²
36 East Alton 1,077/mi²
37 Taylorville 1,080/mi²
38 East Peoria 1,087/mi²
39 Cahokia Heights 1,088/mi²
40 Carterville 1,098/mi²
41 Homer Glen 1,104/mi²
42 Monee 1,105/mi²
43 Yorkville 1,110/mi²
44 Lakemoor 1,113/mi²
45 Lake Forest 1,116/mi²
46 Hawthorn Woods 1,123/mi²
47 Shiloh 1,128/mi²
48 Greenville 1,135/mi²
49 Effingham 1,136/mi²
50 Inverness 1,155/mi²
51 Braidwood 1,165/mi²
52 Marion 1,166/mi²
53 Chillicothe 1,174/mi²
54 Harvard 1,178/mi²
55 Chester 1,184/mi²
56 Morris 1,192/mi²
57 Rockton 1,201/mi²
58 Bethalto 1,218/mi²
59 Pinckneyville 1,230/mi²
60 Carbondale 1,248/mi²
61 Ottawa 1,256/mi²
62 Herrin 1,269/mi²
63 Olney 1,279/mi²
64 Morton 1,281/mi²
65 South Beloit 1,285/mi²
66 Benton 1,289/mi²
67 Plano 1,295/mi²
68 Murphysboro 1,296/mi²
69 Harrisburg 1,302/mi²
70 Frankfort 1,307/mi²
71 Glen Carbon 1,309/mi²
72 East St. Louis 1,312/mi²
73 Edwardsville 1,326/mi²
74 Minooka 1,328/mi²
75 Lake Villa 1,333/mi²
76 Waterloo 1,334/mi²
77 Mendota 1,348/mi²
78 Colona 1,358/mi²
79 Pontiac 1,359/mi²
80 Hoopeston 1,366/mi²
81 Pana 1,367/mi²
82 Fox Lake 1,389/mi²
83 Geneseo 1,396/mi²
84 Granite City 1,402/mi²
85 Macomb 1,405/mi²
86 Willow Springs 1,415/mi²
87 Jerseyville 1,418/mi²
88 Fairview Heights 1,418/mi²
89 Loves Park 1,420/mi²
90 Mount Zion 1,426/mi²
91 East Moline 1,427/mi²
92 Lake Bluff 1,430/mi²
93 Maryville 1,430/mi²
94 Mount Carmel 1,433/mi²
95 Winthrop Harbor 1,433/mi²
96 Highland 1,434/mi²
97 Paris 1,436/mi²
98 West Frankfort 1,437/mi²
99 Centralia 1,465/mi²
100 Rantoul 1,474/mi²

The least densely populated cities in Illinois offer spacious living with more land per resident. Godfrey has just 516 people per square mile. These cities provide room to spread out with larger lot sizes and more open space.

Low-density cities typically feature more single-family homes with larger yards, easier parking, and less traffic congestion. They appeal to families seeking space, privacy, and access to nature without moving to a fully rural area.

While the spread-out nature of these cities means longer drives to amenities and greater reliance on personal vehicles, many residents value the trade-off for quieter neighborhoods and a more relaxed pace of life.

Did You Know?

  • 1. In Godfrey, there are only 516 people per square mile - each resident has roughly 54,051 square feet of city space.
  • 2. Low-density cities often have significantly lower housing costs due to more available land for development.
  • 3. Many of the least dense cities are located in the western United States, where vast open spaces define the landscape.

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