South Elgin, IL

Census place 1770720 · pop 24,217

D54/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in IL
📍 Illinois ranks #39 of 50 states →
🏆 Income$127,203 · top 11%
🚽 Prop tax2.34% · bottom 5%
Taxes
2.34% property · US 0.99%8.96% sales · US 7.00%4.95% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.34%5

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.34% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.4%24

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time28 min24

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$2,196/mo26

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,196/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$339,10039

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$339,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level90/10047

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

90/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Violent crime rate188/100k52

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

188 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults9.1%54

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity34.0%55

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

34.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Air quality (AQI)County-level42 AQI57

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

42 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+5.1%64

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Bachelor's degree or higher37.7%65

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

37.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poor mental health15.9%67

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking11.4%69

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

11.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity21.2%71

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

21.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property crime rate667/100k76

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

667 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Poverty rate6.4%78

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

6.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership79.1%84

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

79.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access95.8%85

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

95.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.3886

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.38 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Median household income$127,20389

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$127,203 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Frequently asked

Is South Elgin, IL a good place to live?
By the numbers, South Elgin scores 54/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is median household income and its weakest is property-tax burden. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is South Elgin, IL?
South Elgin reports 188 violent crimes per 100k and 667 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is South Elgin, IL expensive to live in?
South Elgin has a median home value of $339,100 and typical rent around $2,196/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in South Elgin, IL?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.34%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is South Elgin, IL best at?
Its strongest measured area is median household income ($127,203) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.