Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Paradise 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
Paradise
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $30,774 more per year on average
Homes cost $91k less ($242,500 vs $333,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Paradise
Paradise, NV
Pros
65% less violent crime than Elgin
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $30,774/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $333,800
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$30,774
$85,998 vs $55,224/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$91k less
$242,500 vs $333,800
Elgin
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Paradise
Violent Crime
65% lower
94.1 vs 266.7 per 100k
Paradise
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $333,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,192 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 23.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 189,733 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Paradise is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Paradise leads 13 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 10 and Paradise 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 Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $333,800 median home), income ($85,998 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Paradise, NV are about 1,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.