Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Pueblo
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
81% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $33,204 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
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Pueblo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Rent averages $250/mo less ($940 vs $1,190)
Homes cost $45k less ($197,700 vs $242,500)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $33,204/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$33,204
$85,998 vs $52,794/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
81% lower
266.7 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Elgin
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$45k less
$197,700 vs $242,500
Pueblo
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 111,430 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 12 and Pueblo 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $197,700 median home), income ($85,998 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Pueblo, CO are about 897 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.