Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 13 of 22 categories
Elgin
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $563k less ($242,500 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,734)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Households earn $3,226 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.1%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
31% less violent crime than Elgin
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 30°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Elgin
Median income trails Elgin by $3,226/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$3,226
$85,998 vs $82,772/yr
Elgin
Median Home Value
$563k less
$242,500 vs $805,500
Elgin
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
31% lower
185.2 vs 266.7 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $82,772 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 13 of 22 categories. Elgin wins 9 and Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $805,500 median home), income ($85,998 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 4,211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.