Elgin, IL vs San Carlos, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Elgin
72.8
#824 nationally
San Carlos
66.8
#1504 nationally
San Carlos leads in median household income ($219,413 vs $85,998). San Carlos leads in crime level (5.8 vs 7.3). San Carlos leads in walk score (47 vs 43).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Elgin, IL | San Carlos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#824) | 66.8 (#1504) |
| Population | 113,310 | 28,862 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $343,260 | $2,457,746 |
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $219,413 |
| Average Commute | 28.3 min | 26.5 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 47 |
| Crime Level | 7.3 | 5.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+42.0 | D+50.3 |
C-
72.8 Score
Elgin, IL
Mid-size Illinois city with community character
Median Home
$343,260
Population
113,310
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
43
Midwest
View Elgin, IL →
D
66.8 Score
San Carlos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,457,746
Population
28,862
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
47
Pacific
View San Carlos, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Elgin for: