Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Evansville leads 14 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Evansville
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $36,145 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Evansville
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Evansville
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($121,100 vs $242,500)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($917 vs $1,190)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $36,145/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$36,145
$85,998 vs $49,853/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
78% lower
266.7 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Evansville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$121k less
$121,100 vs $242,500
Evansville
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 89.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 10.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 116,906 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Evansville leads 14 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 9 and Evansville wins 14. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $121,100 median home), income ($85,998 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Evansville, IN are about 283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.