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Elgin

#108 in Best Cities to Raise a Family in America
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • City in Illinois
  • 297 reviews
    B
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      C+
    4. Nightlife
      B
    5. Good for Families
      B
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      C+
    9. Cost of Living
      B-
    10. Health & Fitness
      B-
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      B
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    Elgin is a city in Illinois with a population of 112,628. Elgin is in Kane County. Living in Elgin offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Elgin there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Elgin and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Elgin are above average.
    About Elgin...
    Population
    112,628

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $171,200
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,027
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      33%
    • Own
      67%
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    Elgin Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Elgin Neighborhood Map

    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      113.5
      282.7
    • Murder
      1.8
      6.1
    • Rape
      33.7
      40.7
    • Robbery
      49.7
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      172.9
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,161.7
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      65.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      15%
    • 10-17 years
      12%
    • 18-24 years
      10%
    • 25-34 years
      14%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      13%
    • 55-64 years
      10%
    • 65+ years
      11%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      8%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      16%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      29%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      25%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      21%
      13%

    Working in Elgin

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $63,655
    National
    $55,322
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    Elgin Reviews

    297 reviews
    All Categories
    Having been born in Elgin, I love the community of friends I have been able to form, along with the various attractions offered throughout the city! Nearly every year, my family and I participate in the annual Elgin Valley Fox Trot, and have enjoyed walking or running.
    My favorite places to go are the Gail Borden Public Library, and Rakow Branch Public Library: both wonderful to find interesting books to read, or to meet up with friends for studying or any event being held!
    Although some people don't see much to do around here, I'm always able to find something to do, and the distance from this city to neighboring ones is always convenient.
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    This City is wonderful! My young family and I have lived here for a year and a half and I am very pleased with what we have been discovering. The downtown area is AMAZING, there are so many restaurants and cafes to go to! You can't beat the riverwalk and the library which is also on the river. My block is very quiet, all of the neighbors know each other. I can walk to the downtown area and also walk to a local nature preserve so I am happy to have the best of both worlds! Lots of things for kids to do and see, an overall wonderful place!
    I am currently 31 years old and I am still happy to reside in my hometown. The City of Elgin offers a home that is rich in culture and diversity. There are many dining options on all sides of town including Mexican, American, Puerto Rican, Italian, Japanese, Greek, and Chinese cuisine. In addition, there are annual festivals held to honor the different cultures that Elgin houses and to pay homage to the history of our nation including the celebration of Kwanza and The Civil War Experience. Elgin is also known for it's deeply rooted foundation in the Arts which is celebrated by an annual Literacy Festival, Art and Soul Festival, Short Film Festival, and not to mention the most exclusive Halloween celebration of the year -- Nightmare on Chicago Street. With parks to play in and family friendly places to go, Elgin offers a variety of what every town should have.