Your Ideal Living Destination
So, you’re in the market for a home. Maybe you got a new job, or you live in the big city and want to start a family. Or, maybe you want to move to the suburbs, but aren’t they basically all the same?
Before your Zillow app inundates you with hundreds of listings, make a list of what you really want—not just in a house but in a community. What’s important to you? Quality schools? Diverse neighborhoods? Easy commute? Low crime? These are all things an informed home buyer should consider.
And, while you’re at it, why not consider Elgin, Illinois? Explore Elgin Area has compiled a list of the top 10 reasons to choose Elgin for your new home this year.
1. Special Events
The City of Elgin’s commitment to quality of life for its residents is supported by a comprehensive yearly calendar of special events. In addition to programs available through the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin, public events also include the Fourth of July Fireworks, Parade & Festival, Fiesta de la Elgin, End of Summer Bash, free concerts in Wing and Lords Parks, free movies in Festival Park and other locations, and National Night Out. During the fall, Elgin’s celebrations include the Elgin Short Film Festival and Nightmare on Chicago Street among others. Winter events include the Holiday Treelighting and a Holiday Festival. If it’s a special event, it’s happening here in Elgin! Check out a full list of Elgin events.
Did You Know?
Elgin has a weekly outdoor farmers market as well as a craft beer festival and a food truck festival in downtown Elgin.
2. Attractions
There’s no shortage of things to do or see in Elgin. History bufffs can explore the Elgin Area History Museum and Elgin Public Museum to learn all about the history, the people and the places who made Elgin, Elgin!
Nature lover? Hawthorne Hills Nature Center offers a picturesque 67-acre natural area to explore.
Love to read? One of Elgin’s most popular attractions is the award-winning Gail Borden Public Library. The main branch consists of more than 150,000 square feet of space, offering more than 530,000 books and digital assets as well as meeting and community rooms, a teen center and hundreds of engaging educational and cultural programs per year.
Want a place to host your next party or celebration? Historic Lords Park Pavilion is a two-story pavilion situated on 108 lush acres in Lords Park that can accommodate up to 300 people. Would you rather host your event outdoors? Walton Island is a site to behold with a gazebo that is perfect for small gatherings, weddings or parties.
Did You Know?
Elgin has a zoo! Lords Park Zoo features a bison enclosure along with pigs, cows, goats, sheep, llamas and a miniature donkey.
3. Fox River Bike Trail and Fabulous Fox! Water Trail
The Fox River Bike Trail offers bikers more than 40 miles of scenic adventures. The trail is the perfect outing for cyclists, hikers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, boating and kayaking at sites along the trail.
The Fabulous Fox! National Water Trail is a beautiful gem that runs through Downtown Elgin. This nationally designated waterway spans 158 miles, connecting Wisconsin and Illinois for people who love to spend time in nature along the waterway. Several Elgin area parks give kayakers access to the water and places to stop for picnic, restaurants and comfort breaks. A trip down the Fabulous Fox! National Water Trail gives kayakers a view into nature from rare plants found in the Forest Preserve areas to the eagles who return to the river near Gail Borden Public Library.
Did You Know?
The Fox River Bike Trail connects Elgin biking aficionados with cities like Dundee, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, and Aurora.
Take in the views of the Fox River during your exploration of the Fox River Bike Trail.
4. Parks and Recreation
Making your fitness (and fun) to-do list? Enjoy the outdoors by playing 18 holes at Bowes Creek Country Club or The Highlands of Elgin, swimming laps at Wing Park or Lords Park Family Aquatic Centers, walking the trails of Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, catching a game — or playing in one — at the Elgin Sports Complex, or checking out the action at the BMX track. You can also enjoy family time in one of 76 city-owned parks.
A day indoors calls for a visit to the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin to shoot hoops in the fieldhouse, splash around Adventure Island Aquatic Center, or ascend the 32-foot climbing wall. No matter how you like to move, Elgin has a place to play.
Did You Know?
Bowes Creek Country Club and The Highlands, two Elgin golf courses, were both recently ranked in the top 10 of Illinois’ top golf courses by Golf Advisor.
By the Numbers
Elgin is Illinois’ sixth-largest city, with a population of
(as of July 1, 2025)
There are more than 40,500 total housing units in the city’s boundaries, with an average home value of
The median household income in Elgin is
Elgin was ranked the
Most Diverse City and
Safest City in the nation.
There are more than
churches, temples and other places of worship in Elgin covering several denominations and sects, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Baha’i.
Sources: City of Elgin, U-46 School District, Elgin Community College, Judson University, US Data, IL Home Relocator, IL Home Town Locator
5. Arts & Entertainment
Arts and culture truly help define Elgin as a city, as evidenced by multiple performing arts venues such as the Elgin Art Showcase, Side Street Studio Arts, Elgin Community College’s Spartan Auditorium, Judson University’s Thulin Auditorium and the 1,200-seat newly renovated Hemmens Cultural Centre, which continues to host the nationally renowned Elgin Symphony Orchestra. A new theater space is The Lodge Performing Arts Center at Villa Court in Elgin.
Several community and youth theater companies perform in these auditoriums as well as occasionally in the parks during the summer months. Other well-established musical groups performing in the area include the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Master Chorale, Heartland Voices, Elgin’s Children’s Chorus, and Chamber Music on the Fox.
Did You Know?
The Funk Rooster Tattoo and Art Studio has recently been recognized as an Illinois Maker by the Illinois Office of Tourism for their unique and artistic flair with every piece they work on. Stop in to see for yourself or book an appointment!
Savor the stuffed pork chops served with mashed potatoes and mango-chipotle chutney at Elgin Public House.
6. Downtown Elgin
Elgin’s Central Business District is the place to be for arts, culture, events, niche shopping and a wide array of eateries and drinking establishments. Architecture junkies, take note: downtown Elgin is replete with Art Deco, Romanesque Revival, Chicago School and mid-century-modern buildings. Amenities such as Festival Park, the splash pad, Riverside Drive Promenade and the DuPage Court are all home to concerts and popular events.
Each Friday afternoon during the summer, visitors and residents can stroll along Riverside Drive Promenade for the Downtown Elgin Market. Another draw for visitors is the Grand Victoria Casino, which offers gaming, dining and nightlife. If gaming is not your thing, stop by one of the on-site restaurants, from The Slice Pizzeria, Buckingham’s Steakhouse and Lounge, and the occasional taco and burrito pop-up restaurant.
Did You Know?
Elgin’s Cultural Arts Commission has sponsored public art pieces by local artists featured throughout downtown Elgin. Take a walking tour to see them all!
7. Transportation
Commuting to Chicago is made easier with Elgin’s proximity to Interstate 90 and easy access to public transportation, including three Metra stations and a new Pace Bus Park and Ride facility in Elgin. Elgin is also bicycle-friendly with miles of bikeable thoroughfares both in town and along the Fox River Bike Trail. Now, Elgin boasts designated bike lanes on several downtown streets.
Did You Know?
Parking in downtown Elgin is always free, with three large parking decks that can accommodate more than 1,000 vehicles daily.
What People Are Saying
Don’t just take our word for it. Here are some quotes from residents who love Elgin as much as we do:
“We moved to Elgin because we wanted to raise our young family in a community that is vibrant and full of life. We wanted to be somewhere where you know your neighbors and people genuinely care about one another. You can walk five blocks one way and be in nature, and then walk five blocks in the opposite direction and be downtown among great restaurants and shops.”
–Peggy Bernar
“The investment in rebuilding Elgin has been very attractive to us. As young professionals and small-business owners, having a lively, invested group of people at the core of Elgin has been great. New restaurants and bars coming into the downtown area has been very exciting for us.”
–Jessica Lamb
“The famous Fox River divides the town east and west, and what was once a means to bring and ship goods is now a picturesque landscape enhanced with a promenade and a riverboat casino. If you haven’t visited this gem dubbed The City in the Suburbs, you are missing out.”
–Steve Thoren
“The people are nice, and there is a lot of diversity. We have two train stations and we are close to the highway, so it is really easy to get to the city.”
–Dre Boz
8. Public Safety, Health and Community Services
Elgin’s responsive, award-winning public safety department includes the Elgin Police Department, employing more than 195 sworn officers, and the Elgin Fire Department, with more than 133 sworn firefighters operating out of seven stations.
For more than 100 years, two local hospitals have served the healthcare needs of Elgin residents. Sherman Hospital is now part of Advocate Health Care, the largest health care delivery system in the state of Illinois. U.S. News & World Report named Sherman Hospital a 2018–2019 Best Regional Hospital. St. Joseph Hospital was named one of Illinois’ top hospitals in 2015 and is now part of Amita Health.
The city’s Elgin 311 call center is a tremendous resource to help connect residents to Elgin’s local government. During normal business hours, Elgin 311 citizen advocates answer general questions and process non-emergency service requests, including reporting potholes, a missed garbage collection, and more.
Did You Know?
Elgin’s crime rate is at a 49-year low thanks to the Elgin Police Department’s community policing philosophy and collaboration with residents, businesses and organizations.
9. Education
Elgin is primarily served by School District U-46, the state’s second-largest school district with an enrollment of nearly 34,000 students. U-46’s award-winning dual language program enables more than 11,000 students to develop bilingualism and biliteracy skills. Our communities are also served by Community Unit School District 300, which enrolls 23,000 students, and Burlington School District 301, which enrolls more than 5,000 students. There are several other private schools in the area as well. The area’s schools are bolstered by Alignment Collaboration for Education, a collaboration of more than 200 organizations working together to build the region’s future workforce in partnership with school districts U-46, 300, and 301.
Elgin Community College offers 131 associate degree and certificate programs. Judson University is a four-year Christian college with more than 60 certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
An Elgin student could conceivably attend school locally from pre-K through a doctoral program without leaving the city.
Did You Know?
An Elgin student could conceivably attend school locally from pre-K all the way through a doctoral program without leaving the city.
10. Businesses and Workers are Thriving
In 2025, Elgin employed over 55,980 people, primarily in manufacturing, healthcare, social assistance and retail services. Small businesses account for more than half of the people employed in Elgin, and our Downtown Neighborhood Association and Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce cultivate a fantastic support system for companies of all sizes. In Elgin, we proactively encourage shopping small and local all year round.
Did You Know?
Nearly 1.6 million square feet of new, speculative industrial space was built and delivered in 2020 – a record amount for Elgin in a single year
