Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 18 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Surprise
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Rent averages $632/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $110k less ($242,500 vs $352,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
59% less violent crime than Elgin
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Home Value
$110k less
$242,500 vs $352,600
Surprise
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$1,758
$87,756 vs $85,998/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
59% lower
109.1 vs 266.7 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
20.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 18 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 5 and Surprise wins 18. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($85,998 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Surprise, AZ are about 1,431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.