Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Elgin leads 15 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $36,265 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($157,800 vs $242,500)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($982 vs $1,190)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $36,265/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$36,265
$85,998 vs $49,733/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
81% lower
266.7 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$85k less
$157,800 vs $242,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 15 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 15 and Milwaukee wins 8. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $157,800 median home), income ($85,998 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Milwaukee, WI are about 73 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.