At a Glance
Median Income
$40,000
$31,735 per capita
Home Value
$111,400
Zillow: $129,410
Median Rent
$649/mo
27.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
22.3%
85.4% high school+
Unemployment
9.8%
19.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.2%
17.6% 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
3.3 / 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 $40,000 , which is 47% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,735. The unemployment rate stands at 9.8% (172% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 19.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 110 business establishments, including 8 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Elgin is $111,400 , 60% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $129,410. Median rent is $649/month, with 27.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 89.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1954.
Education
22.3% of adults in Elgin hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(34% below the national average).
85.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Elgin has an average annual temperature of 42°F (6°C).
Winters average 14°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 19.2 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population654
Median Age42.3 yrs
Density798/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born7.0%
Veterans7.8%
Economy
C
Median Income$40,000
Per Capita$31,735
Unemployment9.8%
Poverty19.0%
County GDP$104M
Avg Weekly Wage$962
Housing
A+
Home Value$111,400
Rent$649
Ownership68.6%
Zillow$129,410
Housing Units374
Rent Burden27.8%
Health
Obesity42.2%
Diabetes10.3%
Smoking17.6%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death8,581/100K
Climate
Avg Temp42°F
Rain19.2 in/yr
Elevation2,353 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.3%
High School+85.4%
Graduate+2.8%
School Score5.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 83% / D 16%
Commute12 min
Broadband85.9%
Internet Speed194 Mbps
Libraries1
Did You Know?
The median home in Elgin was built in 1954.
The nearest airport is Dickinson/Theodore Roosevelt Regional (53 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.505 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
17.6% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 194 Mbps.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.