Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Elgin leads 17 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Santa Ana
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($242,500 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $695/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,885)
46% less violent crime than Santa Ana
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$1,788
$85,998 vs $84,210/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
46% lower
266.7 vs 493.1 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$382k less
$242,500 vs $624,000
Santa Ana
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $84,210 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 17 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 17 and Santa Ana wins 6. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $624,000 median home), income ($85,998 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.