Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Elgin
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $2,901 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Elgin
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($242,500 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,663)
27% less violent crime than Beaverton
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.9%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Median income trails Beaverton by $2,901/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$2,901
$88,899 vs $85,998/yr
Beaverton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.0% unemployment
Elgin
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
27% lower
266.7 vs 364.8 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$252k less
$242,500 vs $494,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 11 and Elgin wins 12. 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 Beaverton to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $242,500 median home), income ($88,899 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Elgin, IL are about 1,724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.