Quality of Life
Discover the epitome of quality living in Elgin, Illinois, where every day is an invitation to a vibrant, fulfilling life. From charming neighborhoods and diverse housing options to top-tier schools and excellent healthcare facilities, Elgin offers a nurturing environment for families and individuals alike. With abundant parks, cultural attractions, and a thriving dining scene, your leisure hours will be filled with excitement and relaxation. Peace of mind is abundant as crime rates are at a 50-year low. Embrace a balanced, dynamic lifestyle without sacrificing affordability. Elgin, Illinois, is more than a place to live; it's a place to thrive. Come experience the extraordinary quality of life that Elgin has to offer.
Housing:
Live the Dream in Elgin!
Elgin offers a diverse tapestry of housing options, each tailored to suit your unique lifestyle. Whether you crave the cozy charm of historic homes, the modern allure of chic apartments, or the spacious comfort of family-friendly residences, Elgin has it all.
Enjoy the convenience of well-connected communities with access to parks, schools, and local attractions. Explore our diverse range of available housing, whether you're looking for a cozy space just for yourself or a larger home for your family. Start your journey towards finding your ideal living space in Elgin today!
Elgin's Population 114,797
Day Time 113,548,
Workers 55,539 and
Residents 58,009
Median Household Income
$79,757 Elgin
$72,563 Illinois
$69,021 National
Median Home Price
$206,800 Elgin
$212,600 Illinois
$244,900 National
Education:
A Path to a Brighter Future
Elgin is more than a city; it's a gateway to exceptional educational opportunities that empower dreams and transform lives. Here, a world-class education awaits you, from early childhood to advanced degrees.
Nurture your child's curiosity in top-rated schools that foster innovation and critical thinking. Elgin's commitment to academic excellence is unwavering, providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
For higher education and career advancement, Elgin offers esteemed institutions and vocational programs. Whether you seek a degree in business, medicine, or the arts, our city provides the stepping stones to your success.
Elgin Community College and School District U46 relationships with businesses help tailor educational offerings to meet industry needs. This mutual partnership fosters economic growth, supports local businesses, and ensures graduates are equipped with the skills necessary to excel in the workforce.
U-46 has earned national accreditations in Career and Technical Education programs, including automotive, precision manufacturing, and welding.
An Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction and one of the Aspen Institute's Top 25 schools in the nation, Elgin Community College (ECC) serves approximately 16,000 students each year.
Judson Univerisity is one of the top evangelical Christian universities offering a fully accredited, professional architecture degree program.
22 Private Schools in Elgin which includes highly specialized education experience for students with disabilities.
National Louis University offers more than 70 career-focused undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, certificate, and endorsement programs.
Healthcare:
A Healthy Community with Access to Excellent Healthcare
Access to top-notch healthcare providers: Elgin is home to several top-notch healthcare providers, including Advocate Sherman Hospital, Ascension St. Joseph Hospital, and Ascension Saint Alexius. These providers offer a wide range of medical services, from primary care to specialized care.
Affordable Healthcare: Elgin offers a comprehensive healthcare network that includes additional for-profit and not-for-profit organizations offering a variety of affordable healthcare options that include Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance.
Elgin's Healthcare Industry
generates over $2 billion annually and employs over 10,000 people
Advocate Sherman Hospital is also home to a Level II trauma center, which is the highest level of trauma designation in Illinois
Elgin Community College of Nursing
graduates over 100 nurses each year and has a pass rate of over 90% on the NCLEX-RN exam
Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Elgin the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the nation’s #1 ranked provider of comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation care
Recreational: Your Gateway to Fun!
paradiseElgin offers the chance to live a relaxing, uncrowded way of life within easy reach of the Chicago area’s big-city attractions. If you want the finest professional plays, a world-famous array of restaurants and world-famous museums, Chicago is just an hour away via the Jane Addams Tollway or the Metra commuter railway.
But why leave when our towns abound in so many of their sources of fun and culture?
The City of Elgin operates so many parks that no resident is ever far from a playground and a spread of greenery. The Elgin parks include award-winning professionally-designed 18-hole golf courses, The Highlands of Elgin and Bowes Creek Country Club, plus an older nine-hole course at Wing Park. On summer weekends hundreds of young athletes can be found in the huge Elgin Sports Complex, playing soccer, baseball, and softball, or riding BMX bikes. Lords Park includes a zoo with elk, deer, bison, and farm animals. Wing Park has an outdoor pool/aquatic center. Both Wing and Lords host baseball, tennis, and picnic facilities.
The Edward Schock Centre in downtown Elgin is the. It has a large indoor swimming pool, an indoor children’s pool, an inexpensive fitness center with the latest equipment, plus basketball and handball courts, a climbing wall, meeting rooms, and numerous fitness classes.
Elgin is a paradise for bicyclists and hikers. Bikers and walkers can follow the 40-mile-long Fox River Trail and its 26-mile Prairie Trail extension northward to Wisconsin and southward to Aurora. Near the Elgin border, a branch of the Illinois Prairie Path splits off, leading east for some 20 miles to the Chicago border. Other trail connections head west to the Sycamore-DeKalb area.
Thousands of people visit our town every year to explore attractions like the Grand Victoria Casino, a former riverboat that recently added a sportsbook section, and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, which is often hailed as Illinois’ best orchestra outside of Chicago. The ESO’s home, Hemmens Cultural Center, hosts visiting entertainers and events like the annual Elgin Short Film Festival. Elgin Community College also hosts well-known performers and shows. Several local drama and musical groups perform at ECC and Hemmens, currently undergoing renovation and expansion.
Downtown Elgin hosts a farmers market every summer, plus an Art Showcase and Art and Soul on the Fox. Thousands of adults attend the annual Halloween-time Nightmare on Chicago Street.
Gail Borden Public Library is the second largest library district in the State for population served. With hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, partly because of the special programs it hosts and exciting exhibits.
Museums include the Elgin History Museum with its frequent programs and events; and the nature-oriented Elgin Public Museum, which offers as many as 140 educational programs a year for children, youth, and adults.
