CensusEasy
CITY

South Elgin

Illinois · 25,656 residents (2025 est.) · 7.268 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chicago metro area
Compare
The short version

South Elgin is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $127,203. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 50% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $339,100. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 53% more than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% 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
24,217
+50%since 2000
from 16,100 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,332 / sq mi
+50%since 2000
from 2,215 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.0
+25%since 2000
from 31.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,656 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K11K16K21K26K1990201020202024South Elgin
202424K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$127,203
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,323 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$52,103
+103%since 2000
from $25,676 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
69.8%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.384
+13%since 2010
from 0.340 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration7.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical7.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$339,100
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $151,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,640
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $765 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.1%
−10.2 ptssince 2000
from 89.3% in 2000
20.9% rent
Vacancy rate
0.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.9%
−18.7 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.5%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+19%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
45
RELATED:See current rent listings in South Elgin on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(12,894)
Black2.6%(412)
Hispanic / Latino10.3%(1,664)
Asian5.4%(873)
Other0%
Diversity Score40.4%(6,498)
2024
White, non-Hispanic57.4%(13,896)
Black4.7%(1,150)
Hispanic / Latino20.3%(4,923)
Asian10.9%(2,633)
Other6.7%(1,615)
Diversity Score76.4%(18,492)
Diversity Score
76
+89%since 2000
from 40 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.7%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 25.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 90.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.0%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.2 min
+20%since 2000
from 23.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.2%
−15.2 ptssince 2009
from 86.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.4%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.1%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.0%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 77.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.0%
−17.7 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Female
47.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Foreign born
16.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.7%
−46.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 6.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.0%
−86.8 ptssince 2013
from 93.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.8%
+6.7 ptssince 2017
from 89.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
74.7%
−4.8 ptssince 2016
from 79.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
13.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 12.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to South Elgin

Palm City
Pop 26,371
Hercules
Pop 26,326
Fish Hawk
Pop 26,186
Lutz
Pop 27,106
Places similar to South Elgin
Head to head

Compare South Elgin to nearby cities

SOUTH ELGIN VS
Elgin
Income$90,282−29%
Home value$273,000−19%
Population115,476+350%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH ELGIN VS
St. Charles
Income$114,300−10%
Home value$377,400+11%
Population33,594+31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH ELGIN VS
Campton Hills
Income$209,134+64%
Home value$547,500+61%
Population10,894−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH ELGIN VS
Bartlett
Income$133,240+5%
Home value$375,700+11%
Population40,855+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in South Elgin, Illinois?

South Elgin, Illinois has about 24,217 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in South Elgin, Illinois?

The typical household in South Elgin, Illinois earns about $127,203 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is South Elgin, Illinois expensive?

In South Elgin, Illinois, the median home is worth about $339,100, and the typical rent is about $1,640 a month.

How educated are people in South Elgin, Illinois?

About 37.7% of adults age 25 and over in South Elgin, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in South Elgin, Illinois?

About 6.4% of people in South Elgin, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has South Elgin, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, South Elgin, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,732 residents, a change of about 224 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →