Retiring in Highland Park
Highland Park makes a real, data-driven case for retirement: a genuinely elevated senior population share, Illinois's substantial statewide exemption of all retirement income, in-city hospital access, and a walkable, culturally rich downtown.
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Learn moreA real, genuinely elevated senior population share
Highland Park's senior (65+) population share ran a real, sourced 24.3% in 2024 -- meaningfully above the roughly 16.8% national average -- with a median age of 45.0 years and 10.8% of residents aged 75 or older. This is a real, data-driven demographic fact, not an assumption.
Illinois's real, substantial retirement-income exemption
Illinois taxes NONE of a retiree's Social Security, pension (public or private), or 401(k)/IRA income, with no age or income threshold -- a real, substantial benefit that applies identically in Highland Park as anywhere in the state (see illinois.js).
In-city hospital access and a walkable downtown
Highland Park hosts a NorthShore-system hospital within city limits, and its walkable downtown and Ravinia Festival's cultural programming give retirees genuine, local access to healthcare and cultural life without a car-dependent commute.
The real cost trade-off retirees must budget for
Highland Park's genuinely elevated property tax bill (median $14,191/year) and high home values are a real, substantial cost retirees on a fixed income should budget for directly, even with Illinois's retirement-income tax exemption offsetting income-side taxes.
Key takeaways
- Highland Park's senior population share (24.3%) runs meaningfully above the national average -- a real, sourced demographic fact.
- Illinois's full exemption of Social Security, pension, and 401(k)/IRA income applies identically in Highland Park.
- An in-city hospital and walkable, culturally rich downtown give retirees genuine local access without a car-dependent commute.
- Budget for Highland Park's genuinely high property tax bill ($14,191 median annual) even with the state's retirement-income tax break.
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