Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Clovis leads 13 of 23 categories
Clovis
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,556 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Elgin
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($242,500 vs $420,700)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,482)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $12,556/yr
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Median Income
$12,556
$98,554 vs $85,998/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
8% lower
244.6 vs 266.7 per 100k
Clovis
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 84.1°F
Elgin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Home Value
$178k less
$242,500 vs $420,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 26.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 13 of 23 categories. Clovis wins 13 and Elgin wins 10. 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 Clovis to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $242,500 median home), income ($98,554 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Elgin, IL are about 1,702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.