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Living in
South Elgin.
About
Life in South Elgin
South Elgin is a community of 23,984 people in Illinois. The median household income is $127,203, median rent runs about $1,640 per month, and median home values are around $339,100. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.
South Elgin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Foreign-Born
16.7%
Broadband Internet
95.8%
of households
Population Growth
+7.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Elgin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Elgin, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.2%), and 13.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.1%
of households
Married Couples
61.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in South Elgin
In South Elgin, rent runs 29% above the IL average, and home values are 29% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,922
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $376,702 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in South Elgin
Unemployment in Kane County, which includes South Elgin, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
South Elgin: Kane County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kane County (county-wide) · Annual averages
South Elgin is about 5% of Kane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What South Elgin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.2 min avg
How South Elgin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Elgin, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Elgin runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
123.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
559.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Elgin Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kane County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kane County, which includes South Elgin, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16,500 |
| 2024 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $700,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Hail | $250,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kane County, county-wide
South Elgin is about 5% of Kane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kane County, which includes South Elgin, is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
130
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Kane County, county-wide
South Elgin is about 5% of Kane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Elgin has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.6"
Annual Snowfall
46.2"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 14°F | 2.02" |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 1.87" |
| Mar | 46°F | 26°F | 2.37" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.96" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 5.12" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.46" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.98" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 4.33" |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.53" |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 3.31" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.68" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 2.22" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Elgin
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Elgin's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Elgin Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Elgin
Saint Joseph Hospital-elgin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Elgin
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Elgin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Elgin
South Elgin's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Elgin (within 15 miles)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
14.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 14,027 students · in-state tuition $22,243 · 75% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,121 students · in-state tuition $47,770 · 88% graduate · median earnings $68,390 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 708 students · in-state tuition $31,810 · 50% graduate · median earnings $59,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 123 students · 57% graduate · median earnings $67,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Elgin
South Elgin has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
67 mi awayCities Near South Elgin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Elgin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Elgin FAQ
Is South Elgin, Illinois affordable?⌄
South Elgin's median rent is $1,640/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $127,203/year. Median home value is $339,100.
Is South Elgin, Illinois safe?⌄
South Elgin's violent crime rate was 123 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 560 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Elgin, Illinois?⌄
Kane County, which includes South Elgin, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Elgin, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in South Elgin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,640/month and median household income is $127,203/year. The median home value is $339,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Elgin, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in South Elgin is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from