After all the bad news you hear coming from Illinois, Chicago and Rockford included, you'd expect the state would be ranked lower.

However, a new study from WalletHub shows Illinois is actual way safer than you think.

Illinois ranked #17 out of 51, scoring a 52.29, based on five different factors.

The factors include:

  • Home & Community Safety
  • Financial Safety
  • Road Safety
  • Workplace Safety
  • Safety from Natural Disasters

The data shared shows Illinois ranking #2 in Road Safety. The other four, put Illinois in the 20s and 30s.

Source: WalletHub

The safest state in the country? Vermont. They came in with a score of 66.78 and lead the way in Home and Community Safety.

The least safe? Mississippi. They ranked very poorly in nearly every category, coming in at #50 for Road Safety.

In case you were wondering, Wisconsin is more safe overall than Illinois. The dairy state ranked just outside of the top 10 with a score of 55.54.

More From Rockford's New Country Q98.5