Elgin, IL
Union Pacific Northwest68 min to the Loop
60
Walk Score
40
Transit Score
1
Cars needed
68m
Commute to Loop
Estimated annual true-cost factors
Based on an example $2,500/month housing cost, 1 car needed, and a 68-minute commute to the Loop via Union Pacific Northwest.
Property tax varies by address. Use the calculator for a precise estimate including your local rate.
About Elgin
Elgin is a historic Fox River city with housing stock its reputation undersells: entire districts of Victorians and Sears kit homes at prices that would be unbelievable twenty miles east. The Grand Victoria riverboat casino funds an unusual amount of civic investment, and the growing downtown has a symphony older than most Chicago institutions.
Metra's Milwaukee District West line terminates here (with UP Northwest service in nearby communities), running to the Loop in a bit over an hour. Local life is car-first, two per household. Elgin suits old-house lovers priced out of Oak Park and buyers who want river-town character with a rail option and a budget-friendly mortgage.
Elgin offers moderate transit access: a single car per household is usually sufficient. One car typically covers the gap that transit leaves.
At roughly $12,000/year for 1 car, transportation is a moderate line item in Elgin's true cost. Combined with a 68-minute commute valued at $14,167/year, the true cost of suburban living in Elgin can significantly exceed what the rent or mortgage alone suggests.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Elgin to a Chicago neighborhood
See exactly how much you save or spend by choosing this suburb vs. a city address.