City Profile

Elgin, Illinois

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Elgin, Illinois, situated along the Fox River primarily in Kane and Cook counties, is a historic city founded in 1835 that has evolved into a vibrant, diverse community. Known historically for the Elgin National Watch Company, the city blends its rich architectural heritage with modern suburban convenience. People frequently move to Elgin for its excellent mix of historic downtown charm, expansive park districts, and commuter-friendly access to Chicago.

About Illinois

Illinois, known as the "Prairie State," offers a diverse character ranging from the bustling metropolis of Chicago to expansive farmlands. Its economy is among the largest and most diversified in the U.S., with major industries including advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, life sciences, technology, and transportation and logistics. While the cost of living statewide is generally considered moderate, housing costs in Chicago can be higher than the national average. Illinois experiences all four seasons, with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, and is susceptible to severe storms and tornadoes, particularly in spring. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that balances world-class cultural amenities and career opportunities with challenges such as high taxes and urban congestion.

112,500

Population

$72K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

62.5

Quality Score

How this 63/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 70 / 100	70.0	30%	21.0
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 96.0	48.8	25%	12.2
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $84,500 Income needed to live here: $58,000 Unemployment rate: 4.3%	76.7	20%	15.3
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.5% Job growth rate: 1.8%	46.8	15%	7.0
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 70 / 100	70.0	10%	7.0
Overall score				62.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 2 (reasoned) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Elgin sits just slightly below the national average, making it an attractive option for families and professionals seeking relief from soaring Chicago housing costs. While housing and utility expenses offer competitive value, Illinois property taxes remain a notable driver of overall household expenditures. Everyday goods, groceries, and dining out align closely with regional Midwestern pricing trends.

Average Rent

$1,650/mo

Groceries

$420/mo

Transport

$130/mo

Utilities

$170/mo

Healthcare

$240/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$22.00

Monthly groceries

$420.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$140.00

Income

Salary Insights

Elgin features a resilient and diversified job market anchored by strong healthcare, manufacturing, education, and logistics sectors. Major employers like Ascension Saint Joseph and School District U-46 provide stable regional employment alongside a thriving industrial corridor along I-90. The remote work scene is also robust, supported by a growing base of professionals who commute into Chicago via the Metra line or work entirely from home.

The average salary in Elgin is $72,000 per year. You would need approximately $58,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Manufacturing +1.20% Education +1.50% Healthcare +2.20% Professional & Business Services +2.40% Retail & Hospitality +1.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

51°F

Avg Temp

☀️

82°F

Summer High

❄️

16°F

Winter Low

🌧️

32.30"

Annual Rain

💧

68.00%

Humidity

🌤️

257

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Elgin relies heavily on private automobiles, though the city provides notable public transit options including Pace bus routes and the Elgin Metra station connecting directly to downtown Chicago. Walkability is strongest immediately around the historic commercial core, while overall urban design remains moderately car-dependent. Major highway access via Interstate 90 facilitates smooth regional driving commutes.

31 min

Avg Commute

42.00/10

Transit Score

48.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home prices and rental rates remain noticeably more affordable than Chicago proper per Zillow 2025 data.

Direct commuter rail service via the Metra Union Pacific West line connects residents straight to downtown Chicago.

Extensive outdoor recreation opportunities including the scenic Fox River Trail and over 50 municipal parks.

A culturally diverse population supporting a vibrant culinary scene and regular community festivals.

A growing economy anchored by robust healthcare, manufacturing, and education sectors per Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Drawbacks

Illinois property taxes are among the highest in the nation, impacting overall homeowner costs per tax assessors.

Winters are cold and demanding, with the city receiving around 27 inches of annual snowfall per climate records.

Moderate walkability and transit scores outside the immediate downtown core require heavy car dependency.

Traffic congestion during peak hours along the Interstate 90 corridor can lengthen daily commutes.

Pockets of the city experience higher local crime indices, requiring careful neighborhood selection.

Head to Head

Compare Elgin

Elgin VS Grants Pass Elgin VS Cincinnati Elgin VS Binghamton Elgin VS Bloomington

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Community Q&A

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.