What are the schools like in Elgin, IA?

Elgin is served primarily by North Fayette Valley Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Elgin?

The median household income in Elgin, IA is $55,625 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Elgin, IA?

Elgin has an average high temperature of 25.7°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.8 inches.

Elgin, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Elgin, IA affordable or expensive?

Elgin's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elgin is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $87,500 and the median rent is $646 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elgin, IA?

Elgin has a violent crime rate of 162.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 254.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elgin, IA a Good Place to Live?

Elgin is a small town of 739 in Iowa, with a median household income of $55,625 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Elgin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Elgin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Elgin city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.1

Elgin's overall cost of living index is 86.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elgin costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elgin, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$87,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$646	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,625	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elgin's violent crime rate is 162.8 per 100,000 residents — 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

162.8 /100k

Property Crime

254.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Elgin is served primarily by North Fayette Valley Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elgin, IA	National Avg
School District	North Fayette Valley Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elgin sees average highs of 25.7°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 38.9 inches of annual precipitation and 39.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elgin, IA
Average High — January	25.7°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	38.9"
Annual Snowfall	39.8"

Demographics

Metric	Elgin, IA	National Avg
Population	739	—
Median Age	45.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.0%	22.2%
65 and over	26.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clermont, IA 3 mi Wadena, IA 8 mi West Union, IA 9 mi Postville, IA 10 mi Castalia, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Elgin

Elgin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52141

Elgin vs Other Cities

Elgin, IA vs Clermont, IA Elgin, IA vs Wadena, IA Elgin, IA vs West Union, IA Elgin, IA vs Postville, IA Elgin, IA vs Castalia, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elgin, IA affordable or expensive?

Elgin's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elgin roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $87,500 and median rent is $646/month.

What is the crime rate in Elgin, IA?

Elgin's violent crime rate is 162.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 254.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elgin?

Public schools in Elgin are operated by North Fayette Valley Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 15.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elgin, IA a good place to live?

Elgin, IA has a population of 739, a median household income of $55,625, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Elgin?

Elgin averages 25.7°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.9 inches with about 39.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elgin?

Elgin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52141.

What is the population of Elgin?

The population of Elgin, Iowa is 739 with a median age of 45.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elgin?

Key numbers for living in Elgin: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $87,500, median household income $55,625, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elgin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.