Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Elk Grove
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($242,500 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $886/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $29,866/yr
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Elgin
Households earn $29,866 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Elgin
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Home Value
$318k less
$242,500 vs $560,500
Elk Grove
Median Income
$29,866
$115,864 vs $85,998/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
29% lower
189.9 vs 266.7 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Elk Grove wins 15. 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 Elgin to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $560,500 median home), income ($85,998 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Elk Grove, CA are about 1,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.