Mundelein receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Elgin
Mundelein
Opportunity: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 21%
vs63 · Top 35%
Growth: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
31 · Bottom 18%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
76 · Top 30%
vs80 · Top 23%
Housing affordability: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
100 · Top 10%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
25 · Bottom 17%
vs57 · Top 43%
Access: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Access
89 · Bottom 40%
vs91 · Bottom 47%
Economic stability: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
70 · Top 30%
vs73 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Elgin | Mundelein | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 114,934 | 31,915 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,282 | $108,340 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,057 | $49,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,011/sq mi | 2,918/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $273,000 | $309,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,361 | $1,566 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.9% | 71.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.2% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 46.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 8.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 184 | 72 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 2.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -48.5% | -33.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.2" | 32.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.7 | 38.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 30 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.79 | 13.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 13.8% | 22.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 13.3% | 30.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 61.1% | 43.4% | 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: Elgin, IL · Mundelein, IL · How this is calculated: methodology