The Town FilesElgin, Illinois
City in Kane County · population 114,797 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $273,000
- Household income
- $90,282
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 36.7
Elgin is a city of 114,797 people in Kane County, Illinois. The median home is worth $273,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 89% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Elgin ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elgin is worth $273,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $90,282, which is more affordable than 21% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,361 a month. 71.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elgin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $273,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,361 | $960 |
| Median household income | $90,282 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Elgin
| People | Elgin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Elgin
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 26, 2019.
Severe weather in Kane County since 1996
Kane County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kane County
Kane County had 213,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,791 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Elgin
31 public schools with 17,355 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin High School | 9-12 | 2,724 | 16.8 |
| Larkin High School | 9-12 | 2,274 | 15.8 |
| Prairie Knolls Middle Sch | 6-7 | 777 | 17.7 |
| Country Trails Elem | PK-5 | 692 | 17.7 |
| Prairie View Grade School | PK-5 | 679 | 17.9 |
| Lords Park Elem School | PK-6 | 679 | 18.9 |
| Coleman Elem School | PK-6 | 655 | 17.2 |
| Highland Elem School | PK-6 | 625 | 16.4 |
| Huff Elem School | PK-6 | 595 | 20.5 |
| Abbott Middle School | 7-8 | 560 | 13.3 |
| Larsen Middle School | 7-8 | 546 | 14.0 |
| Century Oaks Elem School | PK-6 | 536 | 19.9 |
Towns near Elgin
- South Elgin, IL3.4 mi · 23,865 people · home $339,100
- Sleepy Hollow, IL3.6 mi · 3,214 people · home $382,800
- West Dundee, IL4.5 mi · 7,686 people · home $360,800
- Gilberts, IL5.4 mi · 8,366 people · home $347,300
- East Dundee, IL5.7 mi · 3,152 people · home $300,000
- Carpentersville, IL6.0 mi · 37,983 people · home $234,100
- Pingree Grove, IL6.4 mi · 10,365 people · home $320,800
- Streamwood, IL7.7 mi · 39,577 people · home $271,200
Elgin questions
Is Elgin, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elgin scores better for retirees than 11% of Illinois towns and quieter than 6%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elgin is valued at $273,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,282, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,361 a month.
What is the weather like in Elgin?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Elgin get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)