Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Elgin
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
75% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $29,878 more per year on average
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Kansas City
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($133,800 vs $242,500)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $146/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,190)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $29,878/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$29,878
$85,998 vs $56,120/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
75% lower
266.7 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Kansas City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$109k less
$133,800 vs $242,500
Kansas City
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elgin wins 11 and Kansas City wins 11. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $133,800 median home), income ($85,998 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Kansas City, KS are about 392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.