Elgin, IL Local Data & Statistics

State: IL

Total population: 114,934 Household income: $90,282 Rent: $1,361

Overview

Total population

114,934

Rent

$1,361

Year built

1977

Household income

$90,282

Per capita income

$37,057

Poverty rate

9.8%

Unemployment rate

6.1%

Household size

2.9 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Illinois

Total population

114,934

Adults over 25

75,313

Total households

39,317

Household size

2.9 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$90,282

Per capita income

$37,057

Poverty rate

9.8%

Unemployment rate

6.1%

Rent over 30% of income

46.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,361

Year built

1977

Households that rent

28.1%

Households that own

71.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

40.6%

Black

5.4%

Asian

6.7%

Two or more races

23.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

48.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

51.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.2%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

12.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

35.3%

High school graduate or GED

26.4%

Some college or associate degree

11.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

27%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Elgin, IL with: Illinois United States

Elgin, IL

Total population114,934

Rent$1,361

Year built1977

Household income$90,282

Per capita income$37,057

Poverty rate9.8%

Unemployment rate6.1%

Illinois State

Total population12,694,798

Rent$1,274

Year built1971

Household income$83,390

Per capita income$46,406

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityElgin, IL	StateIllinois	CountryUnited States
Total population	114,934	12,694,798	334,922,499
Rent	$1,361	$1,274	$1,413
Year built	1977	1971	1980
Household income	$90,282	$83,390	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,057	$46,406	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.8%	11.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.1%	5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Elgin, IL, Illinois and United States →

Summary for Elgin, IL

Elgin is located in Illinois.

Rent & Income

In Elgin, the typical monthly rent is $1,361 and the typical household income is $90,282. Rent here is higher than Illinois and similar to the U.S., and household income is higher than both Illinois and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 9.8%, which is lower than in both Illinois and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 28.1% of households. About 46.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 27% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 6.1%, which is higher than both Illinois and the national rate.

Elgin, IL — Rent vs Household Income

Elgin, IL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Elgin, IL compares in Illinois (29 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,361	13 / 29	from lower rent	$845 – $1,885
Household income	$90,282	17 / 29	from higher income	$51,592 – $155,105
Poverty rate	9.8%	16 / 29	from lower poverty	4.4% – 25.9%
Unemployment rate	6.1%	28 / 29	from lower unemployment	3.3% – 6.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Illinois with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Elgin, IL

Rent

Elgin ranks 13th out of 29 large places in Illinois for rent. Statewide rents range from $845 in Decatur, IL to $1,885 in Naperville, IL.

Household income

In terms of household income, Elgin comes in 17th among 29 major places. Across Illinois, income levels vary from $51,592 in Decatur, IL to $155,105 in Naperville, IL.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Elgin ranks 16th out of 29 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.4% in Naperville, IL to 25.9% in Champaign, IL.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Elgin in 28th place among 29 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3.3% in Champaign, IL to 6.2% in Waukegan, IL.

💰 Rent in Elgin, IL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,361 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Elgin, IL

Annual Household Income: $90,282

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Elgin, IL

Estimated Rate: 9.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Elgin, IL

In Elgin, IL, households that rent: 11,029 (28.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,029	28.1%
Owner-Occupied	28,288	71.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Elgin, IL

In Elgin, IL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,160 (46.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,160	46.8%
Other renter households	5,869	53.2%
Total renter households	11,029	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Elgin, IL

Less than High School: 26,594 people (35.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 19,886 people (26.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,509 people (11.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 20,324 people (27%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 75,313

📊 Unemployment Rate in Elgin, IL

Estimated Rate: 6.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

League City, TX114,885 Lowell, MA114,799 High Point, NC115,263 Carlsbad, CA114,500 Richmond, CA115,396 Manchester, NH115,415 Waterbury, CT114,356 Westminster, CO115,546 Provo, UT114,303 Antioch, CA115,759

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.