Elgin IL vs Provo UT — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Elgin, IL

Illinois · Population: 114,106

  • Median HH Income$88,316
  • Median Home Price$333,920
  • Unemployment6.3%
  • Bachelor's+26.0%

Provo, UT

Utah · Population: 114,303

  • Median HH Income$62,800
  • Median Home Price$486,127
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+45.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Elgin
114,106
Provo
114,303
Provo +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Elgin
N/A
Provo
N/A
Median Age
Elgin
36.3
Provo
23.7
Provo +
Foreign Born
Elgin
26.5%
Elgin +
Provo
12.2%
White
Elgin
45.4%
Provo
78.6%
Provo +
Black
Elgin
5.2%
Elgin +
Provo
1.1%
Asian
Elgin
6.0%
Elgin +
Provo
2.2%
Hispanic
Elgin
48.4%
Elgin +
Provo
18.9%
Spanish at Home
Elgin
N/A
Provo
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Elgin
$88,316
Elgin +
Provo
$62,800
Per Capita Income
Elgin
$36,037
Elgin +
Provo
$26,755
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Elgin
$68,110
Elgin +
Provo
$60,713
Unemployment Rate
Elgin
6.3%
Provo
4.7%
Provo +
Poverty Rate
Elgin
10.4%
Elgin +
Provo
22.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Elgin
26.0%
Provo
45.0%
Provo +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Elgin
$333,920
Elgin +
Provo
$486,127
Homeownership Rate
Elgin
71.5%
Elgin +
Provo
39.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Elgin
344
Provo
245
Provo +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Elgin
1842
Elgin +
Provo
1931

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Elgin
35.8%
Provo
30.7%
Provo +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Elgin
12.1%
Provo
6.1%
Provo +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Elgin
16.0%
Elgin +
Provo
21.5%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Elgin
16.8%
Provo
12.6%
Provo +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Elgin
18.1%
Provo
8.7%
Provo +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Elgin
12.2%
Provo
7.0%
Provo +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Elgin
48.7°F
Elgin +
Provo
53.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Elgin
37.8 in
Provo
19.8 in
Provo +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Elgin
9.4 µg/m³
Provo
7.0 µg/m³
Provo +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Elgin
55.0%
Provo
75.0%
Provo +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Elgin
30.4 min
Provo
20.1 min
Provo +

Which City is Right for You?

Elgin leads in median household income at $88,316, while elgin offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $333,920. On public safety, Provo is safer with a violent crime rate of 245 per 100,000 residents, compared to 344 in Elgin. Provo has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Provo has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Provo scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.7%.

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About Elgin & Provo