Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
San Jose
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $907k less ($242,500 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1336/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,526)
56% less violent crime than San Jose
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $50,012/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,012 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
56% lower
266.7 vs 606.8 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$907k less
$242,500 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$50,012
$136,010 vs $85,998/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 11 and San Jose wins 12. 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($85,998 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and San Jose, CA are about 1,799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.