City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Elgin, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Elgin - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

114,106
Residents
$88,316
Median income
$252,400
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Elgin - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Elgin lands in the 69th percentile for household income and the 50th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

69th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
50th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Elgin, IL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 114,106 residents in Elgin, a mid-sized U.S. city within Illinois. Elgin households earn a median of $88,316 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.9%. Elgin's housing stock carries a median value of $252,400, and the median resident age is 36.3 years. About 26.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 64.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 398 residential building permits were authorized in Elgin (Building Boom), up 199% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Elgin reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1368.8 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 49.0°F with 39.9 inches of precipitation per year and 32.1 inches of snowfall.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,781 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 94.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

114,106 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$88,316 /yr

Poverty 8.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Elgin compare to other US cities?

Elgin measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 50% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Illinois alone, Elgin ranks #297 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Elgin's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

69thIncome percentile
50thSafety percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income · 50th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Elgin's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Elgin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 52 Avg. percentile National median
Elgin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Elgin's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$252,400 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Elgin $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Elgin, IL Elgin, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elgin, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Elgin, IL median $88,316/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Elgin, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Elgin, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
114,106
Median Income
$88,316
Median Home Value
$252,400
Median Age
36.3
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Labor force participation
64.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1368.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
266.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1102.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.0°F
Annual Precipitation
39.9"
Annual Snowfall
32.1"

Schools

Total Schools
27
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
113,000 residents114,000 residents115,000 residents116,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 114,614 residents 115,476 residents ▲ +0.8%
Elgin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
398
housing units authorized
Single-Family
218
detached homes
Multifamily
180
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 133
2020 153
2021 167
2022 308
2023 338
2024 398

Permit volume increased 199% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.7%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
1.8%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
11.6%
Other
2.9%

Based on 56,185 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elgin sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Springfield
113,714 people
Peoria
112,126 people
Waukegan
88,919 people
Champaign
88,822 people
Cicero
83,223 people
Rockford
147,649 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elgin's 114,106 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Odessa, TX
114,080 people
Provo, UT
114,303 people
Waterbury, CT
114,356 people
Carlsbad, CA
114,500 people
Beaumont, TX
113,710 people
East Los Angeles, CA
114,617 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elgin's $88,316 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hornsby Bend, TX
$88,317 median income
Bella Vista, CA
$88,318 median income
South Miami, FL
$88,313 median income
Port Aransas, TX
$88,311 median income
Buffalo, MN
$88,306 median income
New Franklin, OH
$88,306 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elgin, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Elgin, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 45.4% 6.0% 22.1% 19.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 48.4% White 45.4% Black or African American 5.2% Asian 6.0% American Indian 1.9% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 22.1% Two or more races 19.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Elgin compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Elgin (this city) 114,106 $88,316
Springfield 113,714 $65,537
Peoria 112,126 $58,716
Waukegan 88,919 $70,578
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elgin, IL?

What is the population of Elgin, IL? +

Elgin, IL counts 114,106 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elgin, IL? +

Median annual household income in Elgin runs $88,316, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elgin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elgin; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Elgin, IL safe? +

Elgin has a total crime rate of 1368.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Elgin, IL? +

Elgin's median home value sits at $252,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Elgin? +

Elgin has an average annual temperature of 49.0°F, 39.9 inches of precipitation, and 32.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.