Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
65% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $28,844 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.0%)
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $29k less ($213,300 vs $242,500)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $28,844/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$28,844
$85,998 vs $57,154/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
65% lower
266.7 vs 752.4 per 100k
Elgin
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$29k less
$213,300 vs $242,500
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 22 categories. Elgin wins 12 and Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $213,300 median home), income ($85,998 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Portsmouth, VA are about 731 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.