City Score: Elwood, IL

The score

Elwood, IL scores 45 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 54 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 31 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Illinois state-wide

Read state-wide: Illinois

State-wide for Burden, Marriage & family, and Liberty: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Legal gambling, Divorces, Marriages, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for Illinois as a whole, not by city, so every Illinois city carries Illinois's numbers.

Illinois scores 45 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 54 · Movement 32).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any Illinois city reaches Illinois's officials, and Illinois's own score moves with them.

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What's moving it

• 16 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
• 107 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 121 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 227 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 57 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of Elwood, IL

• What Elwood is up against: 50 out of 100 — Better than 47% of cities, down 8 points (Illinois state-wide)
• Where grace is growing: 22 out of 100 — Better than 26% of cities (From Will County, IL)
• Marriage & family: 73 out of 100 — Better than 83% of cities, down 3 points (Illinois state-wide)
• Christian liberty: 69 out of 100 — Better than 84% of cities, down 3 points (Illinois state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in Elwood, IL

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Elwood, IL rates 47 out of 100: Stirring across 8 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 20 out of 100, Barren

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (431.7 adherents per 1,000 residents, Will County, IL). From Will County, IL. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (16 prayer gatherings, 107 ways to serve, and 121 gatherings).

The Family: 72 out of 100, Steadfast

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (78.7 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Will County, IL). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (57 Bible studies).

Education: 46 out of 100, Searching

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (0 0-2, Illinois). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (57 Bible studies).

Government: 76 out of 100, Just

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (70.4 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, Illinois). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 35 out of 100.

Media: 46 out of 100, Mixed

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.4 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), Illinois). Illinois state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 19 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 17 out of 100, Corrupt

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. Key measure: Adult entertainment outlets (0.1 mapped places per 100,000, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area). From the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area. The church's movement in it this week: 19 out of 100.

Business: 41 out of 100, Fair

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (0.8 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Will County, IL). From the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area. The church's movement in it this week: 27 out of 100.

Compassion: 61 out of 100, Merciful

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (9.4 deaths per 100,000, Will County, IL). From the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area. The church's movement in it this week: 39 out of 100 (107 ways to serve).

What takes Elwood, IL to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 2 → 40
• Unity: Unity 12 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This quarter: Property crime down 27 percentile points (What Elwood is up against)
• This quarter: Violent crime down 16 percentile points (What Elwood is up against)
• This quarter: Drug overdose deaths up 15 percentile points (What Elwood is up against)

Elwood, IL over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Illinois · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Illinois · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · 2026-10 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17197 (9 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17197 (9 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17197 (9 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17197 (9 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 17197 (9 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · 17197 (9 cities summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · county · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Will County, IL · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Illinois · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Illinois · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · Illinois · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, Elwood, IL, Illinois, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare Elwood, IL

• Elwood, IL vs St. Louis, IL (St. Louis, IL scores 37)
• Elwood, IL vs Davenport, IA (Davenport, IA scores 35)
• Elwood, IL vs Peoria, IL (Peoria, IL scores 34)
• Elwood, IL vs Rockford, IL (Rockford, IL scores 34)
• Elwood, IL vs Champaign, IL (Champaign, IL scores 38)

Every indicator

What Elwood is up against — 50 out of 100

• Violent crime: 244.1 offences per 100,000, better than 56% of cities, down 16 points · 2025, Illinois · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 1473.5 offences per 100,000, better than 44% of cities, down 27 points · 2025, Illinois · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 9.4 deaths per 100,000, better than 91% of cities, up 15 points · 2025, Will County, IL · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 2 0-3, better than 45% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: 0.1 mapped places per 100,000, better than 13% of cities · 2026-10, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: 0.9 mapped places per 100,000, better than 21% of cities · 2026-10, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: 1.3 mapped places per 100,000, better than 31% of cities · 2026-10, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: 19.9 mapped places per 100,000, better than 31% of cities · 2026-10, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: 1.2 mapped places per 100,000, better than 56% of cities · 2026-10, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): 0.1 mapped facilities per 100,000 (a floor), better than 16% of cities · 2026-10, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 22 out of 100

• Church adherents: 431.7 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 39% of cities · 2020, Will County, IL · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 4.9 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 1% of cities · 2020, Will County, IL · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 0.8 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 54% of cities · 2023, Will County, IL · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17197 (9 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17197 (9 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17197 (9 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17197 (9 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 17197 (9 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, 17197 (9 cities summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 2.8 per million residents, better than 73% of cities · 2024 · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 73 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 78.7 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 81% of cities · 2020-2024, Will County, IL · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 52.9 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 61% of cities, down 6 points · 2020-2024, Will County, IL · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 6.0 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 63% of cities, down 5 points · 2020-2024, Will County, IL · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 11.9 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 84% of cities, down 6 points · 2020-2024, Illinois · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 28.5 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 20% of cities, down 6 points · 2020-2024, Illinois · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 69 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 70.4 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 91% of cities, down 4 points · 2026, Illinois · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 12 of the edition's safeguards, better than 91% of cities · 2026, Illinois · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 1 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 70% of cities · 2026, Illinois · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.1 incidents per 100,000, better than 52% of cities · 2025, Illinois · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 0 0-2, better than 18% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 0 0-2, better than 29% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 2 0-2, better than 77% of cities · 2026, Illinois · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: -0.4 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 46% of cities · 2026-11, Illinois · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, Elwood, IL, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/elwood-il/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
• The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table

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