CensusEasy
CITY

Elgin

Illinois · 115,476 residents (2025 est.) · 38.143 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chicago metro area
Compare
The short version

Elgin has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $90,282. Population has grown 22% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $273,000. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
114,934
+22%since 2000
from 94,487 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,013 / sq mi
+12%since 2009
from 2,690 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
36.7
+19%since 2000
from 30.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:115,476 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
73K85K96K107K119K1990201020202024Elgin
2024115K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.8%(7,851)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(7,384)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.1%(8,209)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.6%(8,680)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.5%(7,497)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.5%(15,529)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.3%(15,273)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413%(14,995)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.2%(13,982)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.6%(9,838)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.5%(4,071)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(1,625)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$90,282
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,605 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,057
+76%since 2000
from $21,112 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
59.7%
+24.7 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.395
+6%since 2010
from 0.372 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$273,000
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $138,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,361
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $675 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.2% in 2000
28.1% rent
Vacancy rate
3.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.5%
−19.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
−19%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
39
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Elgin on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic53.8%(50,831)
Black6.5%(6,100)
Hispanic / Latino34.3%(32,430)
Asian3.8%(3,600)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.9%(40,080)
Black5.2%(5,962)
Hispanic / Latino48.7%(55,973)
Asian6.6%(7,570)
Other4.7%(5,349)
Diversity Score
79
+4%since 2009
from 76 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican40.3%(46,303)
Puerto Rican2.8%(3,255)
South American1.9%(2,234)
Central American1.6%(1,887)
Colombian0.9%(1,003)
Guatemalan0.5%(607)
Salvadoran0.5%(576)
Cuban0.4%(508)
Honduran0.4%(481)
Venezuelan0.4%(411)
Ecuadorian0.3%(375)
Spaniard0.2%(200)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Panamanian0.2%(192)
Argentine0.1%(159)
Chilean0.1%(134)
Bolivian0.1%(122)
Dominican0.1%(75)
Peruvian0%(30)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.9%(2,223)
Filipino1.5%(1,755)
Laotian1%(1,151)
Pakistani0.9%(1,056)
Chinese0.4%(479)
Korean0.2%(205)
Vietnamese0.1%(109)
Cambodian0.1%(86)
Japanese0%(56)
Thai0%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(89)
Ancestry
German11.4%(13,105)
Irish6.7%(7,747)
Italian5.3%(6,102)
Polish4.5%(5,223)
English4.4%(5,009)
American2.4%(2,792)
Swedish1.5%(1,717)
Russian0.9%(1,061)
French0.8%(960)
Norwegian0.7%(854)
Czech0.6%(741)
Scottish0.6%(642)
+ 39 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.5%(584)
Dutch0.5%(558)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(548)
Arab0.4%(448)
Ukrainian0.4%(442)
Lithuanian0.3%(346)
Romanian0.3%(339)
Greek0.3%(289)
West Indian0.2%(285)
Nigerian0.2%(278)
Serbian0.2%(233)
Danish0.2%(226)
Welsh0.2%(218)
Swiss0.2%(215)
Finnish0.1%(144)
Austrian0.1%(130)
British0.1%(126)
Slovak0.1%(112)
Belgian0.1%(96)
Canadian0.1%(83)
Croatian0.1%(83)
Jamaican0.1%(77)
Syrian0.1%(70)
Iranian0.1%(70)
Bulgarian0.1%(68)
Egyptian0.1%(66)
Haitian0%(57)
Brazilian0%(33)
Lebanese0%(32)
Turkish0%(32)
Slovene0%(31)
Guyanese0%(15)
Somali0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.0%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 20.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.4%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.2 min
+50%since 2000
from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.5%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.8%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 71.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.4%
−26.8 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
26.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−46.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2012
from 8.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.8%
−71.1 ptssince 2013
from 81.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.0%
+11.7 ptssince 2017
from 82.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
51.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 53.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
39.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 38.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married37.7%(17,311)
Married51.2%(23,523)
Widowed2.3%(1,049)
Divorced8.8%(4,027)
Women 15+
Never married33.8%(15,425)
Married48.3%(22,033)
Widowed6.9%(3,128)
Divorced11%(4,994)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Elgin

Davie
Pop 110,851
South Fulton
Pop 112,820
Plantation
Pop 99,183
Miramar
Pop 142,570
Places similar to Elgin
Head to head

Compare Elgin to nearby cities

ELGIN VS
South Elgin
Income$127,203+41%
Home value$339,100+24%
Population25,656−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELGIN VS
West Dundee
Income$105,368+17%
Home value$360,800+32%
Population8,570−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELGIN VS
Gilberts
Income$146,333+62%
Home value$347,300+27%
Population9,082−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELGIN VS
Carpentersville
Income$86,917−4%
Home value$234,100−14%
Population37,045−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Elgin, Illinois?

Elgin, Illinois has about 114,934 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Elgin, Illinois?

The typical household in Elgin, Illinois earns about $90,282 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Elgin, Illinois expensive?

In Elgin, Illinois, the median home is worth about $273,000, and the typical rent is about $1,361 a month.

How educated are people in Elgin, Illinois?

About 27.0% of adults age 25 and over in Elgin, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Elgin, Illinois?

About 9.8% of people in Elgin, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Elgin, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Elgin, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 37,924 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Elgin with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →