Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($87,400 vs $242,500)
Rent averages $339/mo less ($851 vs $1,190)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 30°F
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $48,727/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 6.0%)
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $48,727 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (6.0%)
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cleveland
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$155k less
$87,400 vs $242,500
Elgin
Median Income
$48,727
$85,998 vs $37,271/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
83% lower
266.7 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Elgin
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
6.0% vs 11.9% unemployment
Elgin
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $242,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,190 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 32.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 10 and Elgin wins 13. 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 Cleveland to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $242,500 median home), income ($37,271 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Elgin, IL are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.