Aurora vs Elgin
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $273,000 in Elgin and $274,800 in Aurora.
Side by side
| Aurora, IL | Elgin, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 181,505 | 115,476 |
| Growth since 2020 | +0.5% | +0.6% |
| People per square mile | 4,028 | 3,025 |
| Median age | 35.2 | 36.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39% | 27% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $93,633 | $90,282 |
| Median home value | $274,800 | $273,000 |
| Home value to income | 2.9× | 3.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,596 | $1,361 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 103.6 | 103.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 112.0 | 112.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $77,700 | $77,700 |
| Homeowners | 66% | 72% |
| Top state income tax | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.98% | 8.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 27.2 | 28.2 |
| Work from home | 16% | 13% |
| Take public transit | 3% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.8% | 6.1% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 9.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 31° / 16° | 30° / 14° |
| July high / low | 84° / 65° | 84° / 63° |
| Precipitation per year | 40 in | 40 in |
| Snowfall per year | 28 in | 32 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 16 | 15 |
| Nights below freezing | 134 | 139 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 30% | 30% |
| Home prices, past year | +6% | +6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +53% | +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: Aurora: July to October. Elgin: June to September.
Full monthly tables: Aurora 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 $77,700 in Aurora and $77,700 in Elgin. Moving from Aurora to Elgin, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.