Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($242,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $578/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $18,199/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
43% less violent crime than Elgin
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,199 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Home Value
$409k less
$242,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$18,199
$104,197 vs $85,998/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
43% lower
152.5 vs 266.7 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 7 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($85,998 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.