Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $783k less ($242,500 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1559/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,749)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $36,950/yr
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Elgin
Households earn $36,950 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Elgin
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Home Value
$783k less
$242,500 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$36,950
$122,948 vs $85,998/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
69% lower
84.0 vs 266.7 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 9 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($85,998 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Irvine, CA are about 1,697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.