Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo 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
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1266k less ($242,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1781/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,971)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $63,154/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,154 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 30°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Elgin
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Home Value
$1266k less
$242,500 vs $1,508,900
Elgin
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$63,154
$149,152 vs $85,998/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
9% lower
243.2 vs 266.7 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 11 and San Mateo 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($85,998 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and San Mateo, CA are about 1,818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.