Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 18 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Homes cost $15k less ($227,200 vs $242,500)
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $31,558/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.0%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Elgin
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $31,558 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (6.0%)
Rent averages $179/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,369)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$15k less
$227,200 vs $242,500
Elgin
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$31,558
$85,998 vs $54,440/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
32% lower
266.7 vs 392.9 per 100k
Elgin
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
6.0% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $242,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 32.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 18 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 5 and Elgin wins 18. 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 Bridgeport to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $242,500 median home), income ($54,440 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Elgin, IL are about 783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.