Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Elgin, IL

    Is Elgin a good place to live?

    Watch Elgin

    Elgin ranks #50 of 87 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (44/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $252,400
    +4.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,260
    per month
    Household income
    $88,316
    median
    Unemployment
    6.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Elgin

    The median home value in Elgin is $252,400 and median rent is $1,260 a month, against a median household income of $88,316. Homes cost about 2.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Elgin crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Illinois the 2025 rate was 258 violent and 1,556 property crimes per 100,000 people — #24 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Elgin, IL

    Elgin has about 114,106 residents, 6.3% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Elgin with

    Elgin vs ChicagoElgin vs AuroraElgin vs JolietElgin vs NapervilleElgin vs RockfordElgin vs SpringfieldElgin vs PeoriaElgin vs Waukegan

    More: Where to move in Illinois · Best counties in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report