Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Waco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $38,577 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Waco
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.5%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($174,100 vs $242,500)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,190)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $38,577/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$38,577
$85,998 vs $47,421/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
37% lower
266.7 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$68k less
$174,100 vs $242,500
Waco
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 15 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 8 and Waco wins 15. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($85,998 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Waco, TX are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.