What are the schools like in South Elgin, IL?

South Elgin is served primarily by SD U-46. The district operates 38 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in South Elgin?

The median household income in South Elgin, IL is $118,293 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.4%.

What is the weather like in South Elgin, IL?

South Elgin has an average high temperature of 30.1°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.2 inches.

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

Q: Is South Elgin, IL affordable or expensive?

South Elgin's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means South Elgin is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $283,700 and the median rent is $1,637 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in South Elgin, IL?

South Elgin has a violent crime rate of 188.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 667.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South Elgin, IL a Good Place to Live?

South Elgin is a small city of 23,841 in Illinois, with a median household income of $118,293 and a 3.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: South Elgin stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

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

All South 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: 102.6

South Elgin's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Elgin costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	South Elgin, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$283,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,637	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$118,293	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South Elgin's violent crime rate is 188.4 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

188.4 /100k

Property Crime

667.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

South Elgin is served primarily by SD U-46. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South Elgin, IL	National Avg
School District	SD U-46	—
Elementary Schools	38	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

South Elgin sees average highs of 30.1°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation and 46.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	South Elgin, IL
Average High — January	30.1°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.6"
Annual Snowfall	46.2"

Demographics

Metric	South Elgin, IL	National Avg
Population	23,841	—
Median Age	38.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.7%	18.9%
Asian	9.5%	6.3%
Under 18	24.4%	22.2%
65 and over	11.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Elgin, IL 3 mi Wayne, IL 4 mi St. Charles, IL 5 mi Campton Hills, IL 6 mi Sleepy Hollow, IL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in South Elgin

South Elgin, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60177

South Elgin vs Other Cities

South Elgin, IL vs Elgin, IL South Elgin, IL vs Wayne, IL South Elgin, IL vs St. Charles, IL South Elgin, IL vs Campton Hills, IL South Elgin, IL vs Sleepy Hollow, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South Elgin, IL affordable or expensive?

South Elgin's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts South Elgin roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $283,700 and median rent is $1,637/month.

What is the crime rate in South Elgin, IL?

South Elgin's violent crime rate is 188.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 667.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South Elgin?

Public schools in South Elgin are operated by SD U-46. The district has 38 elementary, 8 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 37.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South Elgin, IL a good place to live?

South Elgin, IL has a population of 23,841, a median household income of $118,293, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. 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 South Elgin?

South Elgin averages 30.1°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.6 inches with about 46.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in South Elgin?

South Elgin, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60177.

What is the population of South Elgin?

The population of South Elgin, Illinois is 23,841 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South Elgin?

Key numbers for living in South Elgin: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $283,700, median household income $118,293, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Elgin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.