Elgin is a medium-sized city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 111,919 people. More than a quarter of the residents of Elgin identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 39% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. 74% of the people in Elgin (over the age of 15) are married and 47% have kids under the age of eighteen. Knowing that, it’s safe to say that this area could be a great place for other families to lay down roots.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a fulfilling experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Elgin, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Elgin and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, health & safety, education, employment and other important metrics.
With a livability score of 80 out of 100, Elgin is ranked #1,313 in the United States and #60 in Illinois. Compared to the US average, Elgin ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Elgin has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Elgin has higher than average scores for the following: amenities (A+), crime (A-), employment (B+) and housing (A). The bad news for Elgin, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: education (D-).
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, shops, etc., Elgin has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive.
Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Elgin gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 199 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Elgin has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Elgin is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Elgin come in at $166,500, which is 4.7% lower than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Elgin, the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 6.7% lower than the Illinois average.
| Statistic | Elgin | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 78.5% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 13.0% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.6% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.3% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.1% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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