Elgin, IL vs Herndon, VA
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.
Elgin
72.8
#824 nationally
Herndon
68.4
#1320 nationally
Herndon leads in median household income ($133,403 vs $85,998). Elgin leads in cost of living index (104 vs 145). Herndon leads in walk score (51 vs 43).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Herndon, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#824) | 68.4 (#1320) |
| Population | 113,310 | 24,935 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $343,260 | $734,699 |
| Median Household Income | $85,998 | $133,403 |
| Average Commute | 28.3 min | 26 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 7.3 | 6.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 145 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+42.0 | D+35.0 |
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 →
D+
68.4 Score
Herndon, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$734,699
Population
24,935
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Northeast
View Herndon, VA →