Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 15 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Omaha
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
28% less violent crime than Omaha
Households earn $15,796 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Omaha
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Omaha, NE
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Homes cost $32k less ($210,300 vs $242,500)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $15,796/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$15,796
$85,998 vs $70,202/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
28% lower
266.7 vs 369.0 per 100k
Omaha
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$32k less
$210,300 vs $242,500
Omaha
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 15 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Omaha wins 15. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $210,300 median home), income ($85,998 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Omaha, NE are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.