Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 17 of 23 categories
Downey
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Elgin
Illinois
17
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $437k less ($242,500 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,814)
42% less violent crime than Downey
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
$1,762
$85,998 vs $84,236/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
42% lower
266.7 vs 460.5 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$437k less
$242,500 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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 17 of 23 categories. Downey wins 6 and Elgin wins 17. 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 Downey to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $242,500 median home), income ($84,236 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Elgin, IL are about 1,707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.