What are the schools like in Elgin, MN?

Elgin is served primarily by Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Elgin?

The median household income in Elgin, MN is $75,417 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Elgin, MN?

Elgin has an average high temperature of 24.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Elgin, MN affordable or expensive?

Elgin's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elgin is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $190,300 and the median rent is $719 per month.

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

Elgin has a violent crime rate of 55.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 568.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elgin, MN a Good Place to Live?

Elgin is a small town of 1,117 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $75,417 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% 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: 93.1

Elgin's overall cost of living index is 93.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elgin costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elgin, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$190,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$719	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$75,417	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elgin's violent crime rate is 55.5 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

55.5 /100k

Property Crime

568.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elgin is served primarily by Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elgin, MN	National Avg
School District	Plainview-Elgin-Millville	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elgin sees average highs of 24.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 34.7 inches of annual precipitation and 48.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elgin, MN
Average High — January	24.4°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	34.7"
Annual Snowfall	48.3"

Demographics

Metric	Elgin, MN	National Avg
Population	1,117	—
Median Age	33.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.9%	22.2%
65 and over	9.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Plainview, MN 5 mi Millville, MN 8 mi Hammond, MN 9 mi Eyota, MN 10 mi Elba, MN 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Elgin

Elgin, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55932

Elgin vs Other Cities

Elgin, MN vs Plainview, MN Elgin, MN vs Millville, MN Elgin, MN vs Hammond, MN Elgin, MN vs Eyota, MN Elgin, MN vs Elba, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elgin, MN affordable or expensive?

Elgin's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elgin roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $190,300 and median rent is $719/month.

What is the crime rate in Elgin, MN?

Elgin's violent crime rate is 55.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 568.7 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 Plainview-Elgin-Millville. The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elgin, MN a good place to live?

Elgin, MN has a population of 1,117, a median household income of $75,417, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 24.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.7 inches with about 48.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elgin?

Elgin, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55932.

What is the population of Elgin?

The population of Elgin, Minnesota is 1,117 with a median age of 33.4. 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 93 (100 = US average), median home $190,300, median household income $75,417, crime index 20 (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.