Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 20 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($242,500 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $437/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,627)
Households earn $10,622 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Median income trails Elgin by $10,622/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$10,622
$85,998 vs $75,376/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$175k less
$242,500 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $75,376 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 20 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Fort Lauderdale wins 12. 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $417,600 median home), income ($85,998 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.