Smart Movers Club

    Moving to South Elgin, IL

    Is South Elgin a good place to live?

    Watch South Elgin

    South Elgin ranks #3 of 88 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (80/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $296,100
    +4.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,619
    per month
    Household income
    $123,744
    median
    Unemployment
    2.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in South Elgin

    The median home value in South Elgin is $296,100 and median rent is $1,619 a month, against a median household income of $123,744. Homes cost about 2.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    South 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 South Elgin, IL

    South Elgin has about 23,984 residents, 2.7% unemployment and 25% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare South Elgin with

    South Elgin vs ChicagoSouth Elgin vs AuroraSouth Elgin vs JolietSouth Elgin vs NapervilleSouth Elgin vs RockfordSouth Elgin vs ElginSouth Elgin vs SpringfieldSouth Elgin vs Peoria

    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