Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Salem
Homes cost $107k less ($242,500 vs $349,500)
Households earn $18,458 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Salem, OR
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elgin by $18,458/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$18,458
$85,998 vs $67,540/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
50% lower
266.7 vs 532.2 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$107k less
$242,500 vs $349,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 13 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($85,998 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Salem, OR are about 1,738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.