Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($242,500 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,797)
16% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $12,893/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $12,893 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Elgin
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
16% lower
266.7 vs 317.7 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$210k less
$242,500 vs $452,300
Hillsboro
Median Income
$12,893
$98,891 vs $85,998/yr
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 13 and Hillsboro wins 10. 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 Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $452,300 median home), income ($85,998 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,730 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.