Elgin IL vs Quincy MA — 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%

Quincy, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 101,361

Median HH Income$95,711
Median Home Price$679,883
Unemployment7.1%
Bachelor's+48.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Elgin

114,106

Elgin +

Quincy

101,361

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Elgin

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Median Age

Elgin

36.3

Elgin +

Quincy

39.0

Foreign Born

Elgin

26.5%

Quincy

32.7%

Quincy +

White

Elgin

45.4%

Quincy

55.6%

Quincy +

Black

Elgin

5.2%

Quincy

6.5%

Quincy +

Asian

Elgin

6.0%

Quincy

29.2%

Quincy +

Hispanic

Elgin

48.4%

Elgin +

Quincy

5.8%

Spanish at Home

Elgin

N/A

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Population	114,106	101,361	Elgin +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.3	39.0	Elgin +
Foreign Born	26.5%	32.7%	Quincy +
White	45.4%	55.6%	Quincy +
Black	5.2%	6.5%	Quincy +
Asian	6.0%	29.2%	Quincy +
Hispanic	48.4%	5.8%	Elgin +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Elgin

$88,316

Quincy

$95,711

Quincy +

Per Capita Income

Elgin

$36,037

Quincy

$53,273

Quincy +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Elgin

$68,110

Quincy

$85,405

Quincy +

Unemployment Rate

Elgin

6.3%

Elgin +

Quincy

7.1%

Poverty Rate

Elgin

10.4%

Elgin +

Quincy

11.4%

Bachelor's Degree+

Elgin

26.0%

Quincy

48.6%

Quincy +

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Median HH Income	$88,316	$95,711	Quincy +
Per Capita Income	$36,037	$53,273	Quincy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$68,110	$85,405	Quincy +
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	7.1%	Elgin +
Poverty Rate	10.4%	11.4%	Elgin +
Bachelor's Degree+	26.0%	48.6%	Quincy +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Elgin

$333,920

Elgin +

Quincy

$679,883

Homeownership Rate

Elgin

71.5%

Elgin +

Quincy

45.0%

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$333,920	$679,883	Elgin +
Homeownership Rate	71.5%	45.0%	Elgin +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Elgin

344

Quincy

326

Quincy +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Elgin

1842

Quincy

1086

Quincy +

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	344	326	Quincy +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1842	1086	Quincy +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Elgin

35.8%

Quincy

22.9%

Quincy +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Elgin

12.1%

Quincy

10.1%

Quincy +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Elgin

16.0%

Quincy

15.5%

Quincy +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Elgin

16.8%

Quincy

4.9%

Quincy +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Elgin

18.1%

Quincy

15.6%

Quincy +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Elgin

12.2%

Quincy

11.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.8%	22.9%	Quincy +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	12.1%	10.1%	Quincy +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.0%	15.5%	Quincy +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	16.8%	4.9%	Quincy +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	18.1%	15.6%	Quincy +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.2%	11.0%	Quincy +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Elgin

48.7°F

Quincy

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Elgin

37.8 in

Quincy

N/A

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.7°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	37.8 in	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Elgin

9.4 µg/m³

Quincy

7.2 µg/m³

Quincy +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Elgin

55.0%

Quincy

75.0%

Quincy +

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.4 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	Quincy +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Quincy +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Elgin

30.4 min

Elgin +

Quincy

37.6 min

Metric	Elgin, IL	Quincy, MA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	30.4 min	37.6 min	Elgin +

Which City is Right for You?

Quincy leads in median household income at $95,711, while elgin offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $333,920. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 344 in Elgin. Elgin has a lower unemployment rate at 6.3%, and Quincy has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Quincy scores better with a lower obesity rate of 22.9%.

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About Elgin & Quincy

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