Algonquin receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Algonquin
Elgin
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 40%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Growth
51 · Top 49%
vs31 · Bottom 18%
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 31%
vs76 · Top 30%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
73 · Top 23%
vs25 · Bottom 17%
Access
87 · Bottom 35%
vs89 · Bottom 40%
Economic stability
83 · Top 3%
vs70 · Top 30%
Measured values
| Metric | Algonquin | Elgin | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,067 | 114,934 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $134,525 | $90,282 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $54,037 | $37,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,401/sq mi | 3,011/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $351,000 | $273,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,723 | $1,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 88.2% | 71.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.7% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 27.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 9.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 115 | 184 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -37.8% | -48.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.2" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 30.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.4 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.33 | 15.79 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 34.3% | 13.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 36.2% | 13.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 37.8% | 61.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: Algonquin, IL · Elgin, IL · How this is calculated: methodology