Elgin, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · McHenry County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
114,106 Population 2,989/sq mi density
$88,316 Median Income $36,037 per capita
$252,400 Home Value $339,753 Zillow
$1,260 Median Rent 28.5% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
275 Violent Crime/100K 1,114 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$88,316 median income, 6.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$252,400 home value, $1,260/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
275 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Elgin experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 39.9 inches. The area receives 32.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

22°F Jan (-6°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average49.0°F
9% below US avg
January Average22°F (-6°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation817 ft (249 m)
Area37.7 sq mi (97.7 km²)
Population Density2,989/sq mi
Coordinates42.0390°N, 88.3257°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyMcHenry County County
Nearest AirportChicago O'Hare International (ORD)
22 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 39.9"
5% above US avg
Snowfall 32.1"
Wettest Month (May) 5.12"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood
Good Days %66.9%
Unhealthy Days1

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0484 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience84.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Mar 15, 2025.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 80 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 16 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 98 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 49 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 54 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 17 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 16 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 107 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

583 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 110 fatalities, 2,202 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 40 km 29
Apr 9, 2015 EF4 82 km 2
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 58 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 49 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 46 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 58 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 53 km 24
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 13 km 1
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 21 km 6
Apr 17, 1963 EF4 97 km 1
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 34 km 0
Feb 28, 2017 EF3 95 km 2
Jun 22, 2015 EF3 81 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 57 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 57 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 54 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 54 km 1
Jun 30, 1977 EF3 76 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 46 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 89 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 125 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

9 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,741 ac, 2019).

Year Name Acres Distance
2019 UNNAMED 1,741 75 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 77 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 79 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 77 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 76 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 76 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 76 km
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 59 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 22°F (-6°C) 2.0 in Coldest
February 26°F (-4°C) 1.9 in Driest
March 36°F (2°C) 2.4 in
April 48°F (9°C) 4.0 in
May 59°F (15°C) 5.1 in Wettest
June 69°F (21°C) 4.5 in
July 74°F (23°C) 4.0 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 4.3 in
September 64°F (18°C) 3.5 in
October 52°F (11°C) 3.3 in
November 39°F (4°C) 2.7 in
December 28°F (-2°C) 2.2 in

Elgin has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 22°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 39.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (5.1") and February the driest (1.9").

View full weather details →