Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $31,250 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Savannah
Savannah, GA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Elgin
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $39k less ($203,300 vs $242,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $31,250/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$31,250
$85,998 vs $54,748/yr
Elgin
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
92% lower
20.3 vs 266.7 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$39k less
$203,300 vs $242,500
Savannah
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Savannah wins 13. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $203,300 median home), income ($85,998 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Savannah, GA are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.