Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 10 of 19 categories
Elgin
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Rent averages $431/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,621)
Households earn $17,174 more per year on average
Homes cost $41k less ($242,500 vs $283,300)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 30°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Median income trails Elgin by $17,174/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$17,174
$85,998 vs $68,824/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$41k less
$242,500 vs $283,300
Palm Coast
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.0% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $68,824 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 10 of 19 categories. Elgin wins 9 and Palm Coast wins 10. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $283,300 median home), income ($85,998 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Palm Coast, FL are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.