Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem 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
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($242,500 vs $392,900)
Households earn $8,430 more per year on average
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,290)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
35% less violent crime than Elgin
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Median income trails Elgin by $8,430/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$8,430
$85,998 vs $77,568/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$150k less
$242,500 vs $392,900
Orem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
35% lower
174.5 vs 266.7 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 10 and Orem 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $392,900 median home), income ($85,998 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Orem, UT are about 1,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.