Signals
Zion
Elgin
Opportunity
37 · Bottom 14%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Growth
40 · Bottom 32%
vs31 · Bottom 18%
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 23%
vs76 · Top 30%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
18 · Bottom 8%
vs25 · Bottom 17%
Access
83 · Bottom 26%
vs89 · Bottom 40%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 45%
vs70 · Top 30%
Measured values
| Metric | Zion | Elgin | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,600 | 114,934 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,104 | $90,282 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,277 | $37,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,474/sq mi | 3,011/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $183,800 | $273,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,186 | $1,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.8% | 71.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 27.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 9.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 22 | 184 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 69.2% | -48.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.3" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 30.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.3 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.45 | 15.79 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 7.6% | 13.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 12.0% | 13.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 68.3% | 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: Zion, IL · Elgin, IL · How this is calculated: methodology