Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
11
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Median income trails Elgin by $11,288/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elgin, IL
Pros
57% less violent crime than Durham
Homes cost $74k less ($242,500 vs $316,600)
Households earn $11,288 more per year on average
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,296)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
Elgin
Median Income
$11,288
$85,998 vs $74,710/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
57% lower
266.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$74k less
$242,500 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Elgin wins 11. 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 Durham to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $242,500 median home), income ($74,710 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Elgin, IL are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.