Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
13
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($242,500 vs $540,400)
73% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $475/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,665)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.1°F
Elgin
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
73% lower
266.7 vs 993.0 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$298k less
$242,500 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 32.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver 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 Denver to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $242,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Elgin, IL are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.