How much do you make?

This map shows household income as reported in the 2000 Census. It looks rather bleak, but the reality may be even worse when you consider the number of homes that house multiple families.

As a city, Elgin beats the national average. In 2000 our median household income was $52,605 compared to the national median of $41,994.

Don't look now, but the nation is gaining on us. The ACS estimate now shows Elgin at $53,868 but the national median is at $50,007.

But, of course, we have the "advantage" of high property taxes you don't find elsewhere.

Triangulating this low income problem is the data from U46. In Elgin city schools the percentage of low income students is over 60%! In some schools it is approaching 90%.