Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 19 of 23 categories
Compton
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Elgin
Illinois
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 30°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elgin by $16,270/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($242,500 vs $489,400)
79% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $16,270 more per year on average
Rent averages $274/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,464)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.0%)
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$16,270
$85,998 vs $69,728/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
79% lower
266.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$247k less
$242,500 vs $489,400
Elgin
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Elgin
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 26.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 19 of 23 categories. Compton wins 4 and Elgin wins 19. 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 Compton to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $242,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Elgin, IL are about 1,713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.