Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $18,718 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1038k less ($242,500 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $877/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,067)
58% less violent crime than Berkeley
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $18,718/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$18,718
$104,716 vs $85,998/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Elgin
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
58% lower
266.7 vs 638.8 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$1038k less
$242,500 vs $1,280,300
Elgin
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Berkeley 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 Berkeley to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $242,500 median home), income ($104,716 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Elgin, IL are about 1,810 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.