Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($242,500 vs $326,600)
Households earn $11,103 more per year on average
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,291)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Median income trails Elgin by $11,103/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$11,103
$85,998 vs $74,895/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$84k less
$242,500 vs $326,600
Madison
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
4% lower
256.0 vs 266.7 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 11 and Madison 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $326,600 median home), income ($85,998 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Madison, WI are about 92 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.