Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Orlando
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Orlando
Homes cost $90k less ($242,500 vs $332,700)
Households earn $19,706 more per year on average
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,509)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elgin by $19,706/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$19,706
$85,998 vs $66,292/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
68% lower
266.7 vs 835.8 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$90k less
$242,500 vs $332,700
Orlando
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 12 and Orlando wins 11. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $332,700 median home), income ($85,998 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Orlando, FL are about 1,022 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.