Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 17 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Elgin by $26,069/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($242,500 vs $597,200)
Households earn $26,069 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than El Monte
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,605)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.0%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
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
$26,069
$85,998 vs $59,929/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
37% lower
266.7 vs 423.2 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$355k less
$242,500 vs $597,200
Elgin
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 39.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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. El Monte 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 El Monte to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $242,500 median home), income ($59,929 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Elgin, IL are about 1,697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.