The Town FilesSouth Elgin, Illinois
Village in Kane County · population 23,865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $339,100
- Household income
- $127,203
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 39.0
South Elgin is a village of 23,865 people in Kane County, Illinois. The median home is worth $339,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of Illinois towns, better transit than 79% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 78% of Illinois towns.
How South 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 South Elgin is worth $339,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $127,203, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,640 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Elgin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $339,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,640 | $960 |
| Median household income | $127,203 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Elgin
| People | South Elgin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.7% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in South 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 46.2 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
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Elgin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 21, 1967 about 1.9 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 115 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 8, 2025.
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 South Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in South Elgin
7 public schools with 6,180 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Elgin High School | 9-12 | 2,770 | 15.9 |
| Kenyon Woods Middle School | 7-8 | 853 | 16.1 |
| Clinton Elem School | K-6 | 593 | 21.2 |
| Fox Meadow Elementary School | PK-6 | 564 | 17.1 |
| Corron Elementary School | K-5 | 540 | 15.0 |
| Anderson Elem School | K-5 | 472 | 13.5 |
| Willard Elem School | PK-6 | 388 | 19.4 |
Towns near South Elgin
- Elgin, IL3.4 mi · 114,797 people · home $273,000
- St. Charles, IL4.9 mi · 33,081 people · home $377,400
- Campton Hills, IL6.0 mi · 10,885 people · home $547,500
- Sleepy Hollow, IL6.9 mi · 3,214 people · home $382,800
- Bartlett, IL7.3 mi · 41,105 people · home $375,700
- Streamwood, IL7.3 mi · 39,577 people · home $271,200
- Geneva, IL7.5 mi · 21,393 people · home $441,400
- West Dundee, IL7.9 mi · 7,686 people · home $360,800
South Elgin questions
Is South Elgin, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Elgin scores better for retirees than 20% of Illinois towns and quieter than 20%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in South Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in South Elgin is valued at $339,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $127,203, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,640 a month.
What is the weather like in South 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 46.2 inches of snow.
Does South Elgin get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)