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Mackenzie Robinson moving

Is Elgin worth moving to in 2026?

Curious what people think. I'm a 55-year-old graphic designer and Median household income is $88,316, which feels pretty solid for the area. Household incomes average around $88,316 in Elgin. The suburbs are where most families end up. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Let me know your thoughts.
58 upvotes

4 Replies

Ian O.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Uptown. It's average for what you get.

Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in finance. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.

People: Generally average. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Thai.

Happy to answer more specific questions..
26 upvotes
Jameson Lopez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.

I've been here 15 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is solid.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Westside side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Jaxon J.
Used to live on the Sunset side, now on the Uptown side. Completely different vibe. the quality of life is solid.
13 upvotes
Amelia Thompson
bump
6 upvotes
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