Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
54% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,614)
Households earn $21,954 more per year on average
Homes cost $82k less ($242,500 vs $324,800)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Median income trails Elgin by $21,954/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$21,954
$85,998 vs $64,044/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
54% lower
266.7 vs 575.8 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$82k less
$242,500 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 12 and West Palm Beach wins 11. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($85,998 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.