Albany vs Elgin
The short version
- Albany is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Elgin area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $234,700 in Albany and $273,000 in Elgin.
- Households earn more in Elgin ($90,282 vs $61,986 median).
- Albany gets far more snow: 59 inches a year vs 32.
- Albany is growing faster: +2.6% since 2020 vs +0.6%.
- Commutes are shorter in Albany (20 vs 28 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Elgin, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 101,698 | 115,476 |
| Growth since 2020 | +2.6% | +0.6% |
| People per square mile | 4,751 | 3,025 |
| Median age | 32.0 | 36.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45% | 27% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $61,986 | $90,282 |
| Median home value | $234,700 | $273,000 |
| Home value to income | 3.8× | 3.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,216 | $1,361 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 99.6 | 103.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 102.6 | 112.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $74,700 | $77,700 |
| Homeowners | 38% | 72% |
| Top state income tax | 10.9% | 4.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.54% | 8.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.0 | 28.2 |
| Work from home | 13% | 13% |
| Take public transit | 10% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 7.8% | 6.1% |
| Poverty rate | 22.9% | 9.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 33° / 16° | 30° / 14° |
| July high / low | 84° / 62° | 84° / 63° |
| Precipitation per year | 41 in | 40 in |
| Snowfall per year | 59 in | 32 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 10 | 15 |
| Nights below freezing | 136 | 139 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 85.9 | 94.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 68% | 30% |
| Home prices, past year | +7% | +6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +51% | +53% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Albany: May to June and August to September. Elgin: June to September.
Full monthly tables: Albany weather by month and Elgin weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $74,700 in Albany and $77,700 in Elgin. Moving from Albany to Elgin, you would need about $78,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.