Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Mesa
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
45% less violent crime than Mesa
Homes cost $85k less ($242,500 vs $327,700)
Households earn $12,232 more per year on average
Rent averages $162/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elgin by $12,232/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$12,232
$85,998 vs $73,766/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
45% lower
266.7 vs 482.7 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$85k less
$242,500 vs $327,700
Mesa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
21.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 10 and Mesa wins 13. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $327,700 median home), income ($85,998 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Mesa, AZ are about 1,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.