At a Glance
Median Income
$60,114
$32,303 per capita
Home Value
$87,300
Zillow: $284,529
Median Rent
$634/mo
18.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
16.4%
96.0% high school+
Unemployment
3.2%
1.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.6%
16.6% smoking rate
How Elgin Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Elgin's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Elgin a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.8 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Elgin residents earn a median household income of $60,114 , which is 20% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $32,303. The unemployment rate stands at 3.2% (11% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 680 business establishments, including 41 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Elgin is $87,300 , 69% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $284,529. Median rent is $634/month, with 18.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1966.
Education
16.4% of adults in Elgin hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(51% below the national average).
96.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Elgin has an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C).
Winters average 17°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.9 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population848
Median Age44.1 yrs
Density1,247/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans9.5%
Economy
A
Median Income$60,114
Per Capita$32,303
Unemployment3.2%
Poverty1.4%
County GDP$1,075M
Avg Weekly Wage$939
Housing
A+
Home Value$87,300
Rent$634
Ownership82.9%
Zillow$284,529
Housing Units372
Rent Burden18.3%
Health
Obesity37.6%
Diabetes9.2%
Smoking16.6%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death8,298/100K
Climate
Avg Temp46°F
Rain38.9 in/yr
Elevation820 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+16.4%
High School+96.0%
Graduate+3.7%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 64% / D 34%
Commute23 min
Broadband84.3%
Internet Speed90 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries11
Did You Know?
The median home in Elgin was built in 1966.
The nearest airport is Waterloo Regional (48 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.448 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.0% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.