Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($242,500 vs $461,500)
43% less violent crime than Austin
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$558
$86,556 vs $85,998/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.1°F
Elgin
Violent Crime
43% lower
266.7 vs 466.9 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$219k less
$242,500 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Elgin wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Austin to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $242,500 median home), income ($86,556 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Elgin, IL are about 965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.