Military Relocation to Illinois

Illinois's military-relocation picture centers on Scott Air Force Base in the Metro East region -- a real, major installation anchoring US Transportation Command -- alongside Naval Station Great Lakes north of Chicago, the Navy's largest training installation.

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Scott Air Force Base anchors a real, major military presence in the Metro East

Scott Air Force Base, near Belleville in Illinois's Metro East region, hosts US Transportation Command headquarters -- a real, major military installation distinct from Illinois's other regional economies, and part of the Metro East's broader identity genuinely oriented toward the Greater St. Louis area rather than Chicago (see the regions-guide topic).

Naval Station Great Lakes is the Navy's largest training installation

Naval Station Great Lakes, north of Chicago in North Chicago, Illinois, is a real, major Navy installation and training center -- this record recommends confirming current, specific housing, schools, and family-support resources directly with the base for any Great Lakes-bound military family, since this record does not have independently sourced figures on those specific programs to cite this pass.

What Illinois-bound military families and veterans should research directly

Military families and veterans considering an Illinois move, particularly to the Metro East for a Scott AFB assignment or to North Chicago for Naval Station Great Lakes, should research each base's specific housing, schools, and family-support resources directly, alongside Illinois's specific veteran benefits and property-tax exemptions for veterans and disabled veterans -- this record does not have current, sourced figures for these specific programs to cite this pass and recommends confirming directly with the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Key takeaways

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Read the full Illinois overview for the complete picture, or explore individual cities and towns we've researched.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-25. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.