Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 17 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Fishers
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($242,500 vs $339,000)
Rent averages $288/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,478)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $40,550/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 2.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fishers
Fishers, IN
Pros
73% less violent crime than Elgin
Households earn $40,550 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Home Value
$97k less
$242,500 vs $339,000
Fishers
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Median Income
$40,550
$126,548 vs $85,998/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
73% lower
72.9 vs 266.7 per 100k
Fishers
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 26.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 17 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 6 and Fishers 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 Elgin to Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $339,000 median home), income ($85,998 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Fishers, IN are about 189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.