Elgin, IL vs Santa Clara, 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
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Elgin leads in cost of living index (104 vs 241). Santa Clara leads in median household income ($165,352 vs $85,998). Santa Clara leads in crime level (5.0 vs 7.3).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#824) | 65.7 (#1617) |
| Population | 113,310 | 131,062 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $343,260 | $1,680,833 |
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $165,352 |
| Average Commute | 28.3 min | 23.6 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 7.3 | 5.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 241 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+42.0 | D+40.0 |
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
65.7 Score
Santa Clara, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,680,833
Population
131,062
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Santa Clara, CA →
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