Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 12 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
St. Petersburg
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
57% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Households earn $15,665 more per year on average
Homes cost $47k less ($242,500 vs $289,000)
Rent averages $220/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,410)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elgin by $15,665/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$15,665
$85,998 vs $70,333/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
57% lower
266.7 vs 619.6 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$47k less
$242,500 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 11 and St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $289,000 median home), income ($85,998 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,037 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.