Least Dense in Illinois

Top 100 cities ranked by least dense

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All Countries · United States · Illinois

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 Princeton 950/mi²

27 Peru 956/mi²

28 Metropolis 980/mi²

29 Mount Vernon 989/mi²

30 Mahomet 1,004/mi²

31 Oak Brook 1,006/mi²

32 Columbia 1,049/mi²

33 Salem 1,050/mi²

34 Roscoe 1,059/mi²

35 East Alton 1,077/mi²

36 Taylorville 1,080/mi²

37 East Peoria 1,087/mi²

38 Cahokia Heights 1,088/mi²

39 Carterville 1,098/mi²

40 Homer Glen 1,104/mi²

41 Monee 1,105/mi²

42 Yorkville 1,110/mi²

43 Lakemoor 1,113/mi²

44 Lake Forest 1,116/mi²

45 Hawthorn Woods 1,123/mi²

46 Shiloh 1,128/mi²

47 Greenville 1,135/mi²

48 Effingham 1,136/mi²

49 Inverness 1,155/mi²

50 Braidwood 1,165/mi²

51 Marion 1,166/mi²

52 Chillicothe 1,174/mi²

53 Harvard 1,178/mi²

54 Chester 1,184/mi²

55 Morris 1,192/mi²

56 Rockton 1,201/mi²

57 Bethalto 1,218/mi²

58 Pinckneyville 1,230/mi²

59 Carbondale 1,248/mi²

60 Ottawa 1,256/mi²

61 Herrin 1,269/mi²

62 Olney 1,279/mi²

63 Morton 1,281/mi²

64 South Beloit 1,285/mi²

65 Benton 1,289/mi²

66 Plano 1,295/mi²

67 Murphysboro 1,296/mi²

68 Harrisburg 1,302/mi²

69 Frankfort 1,307/mi²

70 Glen Carbon 1,309/mi²

71 East St. Louis 1,312/mi²

72 Edwardsville 1,326/mi²

73 Minooka 1,328/mi²

74 Lake Villa 1,333/mi²

75 Waterloo 1,334/mi²

76 Mendota 1,348/mi²

77 Colona 1,358/mi²

78 Pontiac 1,359/mi²

79 Hoopeston 1,366/mi²

80 Pana 1,367/mi²

81 Fox Lake 1,389/mi²

82 Geneseo 1,396/mi²

83 Granite City 1,402/mi²

84 Macomb 1,405/mi²

85 Willow Springs 1,415/mi²

86 Jerseyville 1,418/mi²

87 Fairview Heights 1,418/mi²

88 Loves Park 1,420/mi²

89 Mount Zion 1,426/mi²

90 East Moline 1,427/mi²

91 Lake Bluff 1,430/mi²

92 Maryville 1,430/mi²

93 Mount Carmel 1,433/mi²

94 Winthrop Harbor 1,433/mi²

95 Highland 1,434/mi²

96 Paris 1,436/mi²

97 West Frankfort 1,437/mi²

98 Centralia 1,465/mi²

99 Rantoul 1,474/mi²

100 Wood River 1,478/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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