Elgin, ND vs Hillsboro, ND

Elgin is moderately more affordable than Hillsboro, with a 8.5% lower cost of living index. Elgin scores 60 compared to 65 for Hillsboro, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hillsboro can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elgin is $649/month compared to $645/month in Hillsboro — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hillsboro has cheaper rent, Elgin actually has lower median home values ($111,400 vs $180,800).

Median household income in Elgin is $40,000 compared to $77,844 in Hillsboro (-48.6%). While Hillsboro is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elgin spend roughly 19.5% of their income on rent, more than the 9.9% in Hillsboro.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (42.3°F vs 42.2°F). Hillsboro receives more rainfall at 24" per year compared to 14.3" in Elgin.