Illinois City Rankings

How 29 cities in Illinois compare on combined EMF exposure, cell towers, 5G deployment, and power grid (ELF) exposure. Each list shows up to 10 cities with a published EMF Radar report. See the methodology for how scores are calculated.

Illinois Cities with the Highest EMF Exposure

Cities with the highest combined RF + ELF exposure scores. See the national top 50

Rank City EMF score
1 Elmhurst 74
2 Cicero 73
3 Oak Lawn 72
4 Berwyn 71
5 Lombard 71
6 Mount Prospect 69
7 Downers Grove 68
8 Arlington Heights 67
9 Des Plaines 67
10 Oak Park 67

Illinois Cities with the Lowest EMF Exposure

Cities with the lowest combined RF + ELF exposure scores. See the national top 50

Rank City EMF score
1 Peoria 34
2 Rockford 38
3 Elgin 42
4 Buffalo Grove 50
5 Skokie 52
6 Springfield 52
7 Chicago 53
8 Aurora 57
9 Bartlett 59
10 Champaign 59

Illinois Cities with the Most Cell Towers

Cities ranked by the total number of cell towers mapped within city limits. See the national top 50

Rank City Cell towers EMF score
1 Chicago 1,500 53
2 Elmhurst 894 74
3 Cicero 864 73
4 Berwyn 732 71
5 Lombard 713 71
6 Des Plaines 654 67
7 Oak Lawn 646 72
8 Downers Grove 642 68
9 Oak Park 571 67
10 Mount Prospect 465 69

Illinois Cities with the Most 5G Towers

Cities ranked by the number of towers broadcasting 5G NR. See the national top 50

Rank City 5G towers EMF score
1 Chicago 393 53
2 Elmhurst 273 74
3 Lombard 204 71
4 Schaumburg 156 63
5 Des Plaines 155 67
6 Hoffman Estates 150 63
7 Cicero 145 73
8 Berwyn 143 71
9 Oak Park 143 67
10 Champaign 96 59

Illinois Cities with the Highest Share of 5G Towers

Cities where the largest percentage of cell towers broadcast 5G. See the national top 50

Rank City 5G share EMF score
1 Schaumburg 35% 63
2 Hoffman Estates 32% 63
3 Elmhurst 31% 74
4 Bartlett 29% 59
5 Lombard 29% 71
6 Chicago 26% 53
7 Champaign 26% 59
8 Palatine 26% 59
9 Oak Park 25% 67
10 Aurora 24% 57

Illinois Cities with the Highest Power Grid (ELF) Exposure

Cities ranked by ELF score from transmission lines and substations. See the national top 50

Rank City ELF score EMF score
1 Springfield 43 52
2 Champaign 33 59
3 Joliet 28 65
4 Peoria 28 34
5 Oak Lawn 27 72
6 Bolingbrook 27 64
7 Naperville 27 62
8 Aurora 27 57
9 Elmhurst 25 74
10 Lombard 25 71
Back to Illinois National rankings