Illinois state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, is quick to point an accusatory finger when it comes to assessing blame for the state’s fast dwindling population.
New U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by Illinois Policy Institute shows since 2020, 84% of all Illinois communities have lost population with small towns being hit the hardest. More than 900 of the state’s 1,294 communities of roughly 10,000 population lost residents over the last five years. Many of those leaving cite high taxes as a driving force for them deciding to walk away.
