Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $69k less ($242,500 vs $311,100)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $25,125/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Pearland
Pearland, TX
Pros
64% less violent crime than Elgin
Households earn $25,125 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Home Value
$69k less
$242,500 vs $311,100
Pearland
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$25,125
$111,123 vs $85,998/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
64% lower
95.9 vs 266.7 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Pearland 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($85,998 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Pearland, TX are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.