Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Elgin leads 14 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($242,500 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $812/mo less ($1,190 vs $2,002)
16% less violent crime than Vista
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $2,717/yr
Vista, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 30°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 84°F
Households earn $2,717 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Elgin
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Violent Crime
16% lower
266.7 vs 316.4 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$380k less
$242,500 vs $622,900
Elgin
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$2,717
$88,715 vs $85,998/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 82.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 14 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 14 and Vista wins 9. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $622,900 median home), income ($85,998 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Vista, CA are about 1,686 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.