What are the schools like in Elgin, OR?

Elgin is served primarily by Elgin SD 23. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Elgin?

The median household income in Elgin, OR is $49,155 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Elgin, OR?

Elgin has an average high temperature of 40.0°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Elgin, OR affordable or expensive?

Elgin's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elgin is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $159,200 and the median rent is $933 per month.

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

Elgin has a violent crime rate of 190.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1896.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elgin, OR a Good Place to Live?

Elgin is a small town of 1,603 in Oregon, with a median household income of $49,155 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% 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: 96.7

Elgin's overall cost of living index is 96.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elgin costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elgin, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$159,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$933	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,155	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Elgin's violent crime rate is 190.1 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

190.1 /100k

Property Crime

1896.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elgin is served primarily by Elgin SD 23. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elgin, OR	National Avg
School District	Elgin SD 23	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elgin sees average highs of 40.0°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 25.9 inches of annual precipitation and 9.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elgin, OR
Average High — January	40.0°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	25.9"
Annual Snowfall	9.4"

Demographics

Metric	Elgin, OR	National Avg
Population	1,603	—
Median Age	40.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	24.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Summerville, OR 7 mi Imbler, OR 7 mi Island City, OR 17 mi La Grande, OR 18 mi Wallowa, OR 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Elgin

Elgin, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97827

Elgin vs Other Cities

Elgin, OR vs Summerville, OR Elgin, OR vs Imbler, OR Elgin, OR vs Island City, OR Elgin, OR vs La Grande, OR Elgin, OR vs Wallowa, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elgin, OR affordable or expensive?

Elgin's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elgin roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $159,200 and median rent is $933/month.

What is the crime rate in Elgin, OR?

Elgin's violent crime rate is 190.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1896.8 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 Elgin SD 23. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 9.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elgin, OR a good place to live?

Elgin, OR has a population of 1,603, a median household income of $49,155, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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 40.0°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.9 inches with about 9.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elgin?

Elgin, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97827.

What is the population of Elgin?

The population of Elgin, Oregon is 1,603 with a median age of 40.4. 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 97 (100 = US average), median home $159,200, median household income $49,155, crime index 66 (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.