Elgin, Illinois
Among the top 15% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 1% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 78% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 39% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 85% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 55% of US places
- top 7% for walkability
- top 13% for airport distance
- bottom 1% for monthly owner costs
Elgin is a city in Illinois with about 114,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for affordability. Standout strengths include walkability, airport distance, and comfortable days. It rates lower on property tax rate and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Elgin is $243k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Elgin is $86k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Elgin is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Elgin has a violent crime rate of 1293/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Elgin is 28 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
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v.cold
77%49%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.4 in2.0 in
humid 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$86k77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$61kbetter than 11% of US places
Home Value$243k69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 27% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$27kbetter than 1% of US places
Property Tax Rate2.50%better than 4% of US places
Income Tax5.00%better than 47% of US places
Sales Tax8.86%better than 14% of US places
Estimated total tax burden14.97%better than 17% of US places
Unemployment6.0%better than 32% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation39.9 in44th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall32.1 inbetter than 30% of US places
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 64% of US places
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 57% of US places
Comfortable Days95 daysbetter than 79% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk60.1better than 58% of US places
Air Quality51 AQIbetter than 17% of US places
School Quality75.1better than 71% of US places
Violent Crime1293/100kbetter than 24% of US places
Property Crime753/100kbetter than 59% of US places
Community
Population114,19099th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age35.524th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.6797th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0463rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1518th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)37.6%13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.1%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)47.3%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)6.0%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.9%61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time28 minbetter than 34% of US places
Walkability12.1/20better than 93% of US places
Airport Distance23 mibetter than 87% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.4%better than 73% of US places
Amenities Nearby18.92better than 20% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 67% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Elgin an affordable place to live?
- Elgin is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $61k, better than 11% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Elgin safe?
- Elgin is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1293/100k (better than 24%). Property crime is 753/100k.
- What is the weather like in Elgin?
- Elgin averages 74°F in July and 24°F in January, with 39.9 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Elgin?
- Public-school quality in Elgin is above average, scoring better than 71% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Elgin?
- The average one-way commute in Elgin is 28 min.