Athens, AL vs Elgin, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Athens
70
#1140 nationally
Elgin
72.8
#824 nationally
Elgin leads in walk score (43 vs 21). Elgin leads in median household income ($85,998 vs $57,444). Athens leads in average commute (24.5 min vs 28.3 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Athens, AL | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1140) | 72.8 (#824) |
| Population | 30,904 | 113,310 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $311,050 | $343,260 |
| Median Household Income | $57,444 | $85,998 |
| Average Commute | 24.5 min | 28.3 min |
| Walk Score | 21 | 43 |
| Crime Level | 6.7 | 7.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 93 | 104 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+43.9 | D+42.0 |
C-
70 Score
Athens, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$311,050
Population
30,904
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
21
Southeast
View Athens, AL →
C-
72.8 Score
Elgin, IL
Mid-size Illinois city with community character
Median Home
$343,260
Population
113,310
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
43
Midwest
View Elgin, IL →