Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Santa Monica, 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1412k less ($242,500 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1037/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,227)
66% less violent crime than Santa Monica
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $20,799/yr
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $20,799 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) 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
Violent Crime
66% lower
266.7 vs 778.0 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$1412k less
$242,500 vs $1,654,800
Elgin
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$20,799
$106,797 vs $85,998/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Santa Monica, 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 | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 12 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($85,998 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,723 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.