Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Rancho Cucamonga
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $415k less ($242,500 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $994/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,184)
9% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $19,536/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,536 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Elgin
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
9% lower
266.7 vs 293.7 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$415k less
$242,500 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$19,536
$105,534 vs $85,998/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 12 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $657,400 median home), income ($85,998 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.