Illinoisans are frustrated. But the depths of that frustration may not have been evident until now.

According to a recent Gallup survey:

“Illinois has the unfortunate distinction of being the state with the highest percentage of residents who say it is the worst possible place to live. One in four Illinois residents (25%) say the state is the worst place to live, followed by 17% each in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

“Throughout its history, Illinois has been rocked by high-profile scandals, investigations, and resignations from Chicago to Springfield and elsewhere throughout the state. Such scandals may explain why Illinois residents have the least trust in their state government across all 50 states. Additionally, they are among the most resentful about the amount they pay in state taxes. These factors may contribute to an overall low morale for the state’s residents.”

For the first time, Gallup conducted a poll in all 50 states to ask whether residents view their state as: the best possible place in which to live, as good as any to in, or the worst possible state to live in. A minimum of 600 residents was polled in every state.

Not only was Illinois rated as the worst place to live by its own residents, but it also beat the next two worst places – Rhode Island and Connecticut – by 8 percentage points, and the leading state – Montana – by a whopping 25 percentage points.

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