wheres should I retire?
You are here: Home > Illinois > Elgin Area

Retirement Living In Elgin Area - Illinois


Jump to: Area, Characteristics, Cost, Amenities, Climate, Demographics, Housing, Assistance

Area Description

The City of Elgin has everything you could ask for. Its roots run deep as a bustling city in its own right.

Elgin can authentically boast of its own proud accomplishments and innovations, rich heritage, active business climate and robust economic development, education focus and thriving arts and cultural amenities.

The City in the Suburbs is authentic, the ideal reflection of what the community is and what the community aspires to be in the future.

Our close proximity 35 miles northwest of Chicago has kept Elgin an ever-bustling entity for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. But it has kept fiercely independent to grow with its own identity and achieved its status as an award-winning All American City. Elgin has a quality of life and accessibility that are unusual for a city including cultural, entertainment and recreation opportunities that are not available in surrounding suburbs.

‘The City in the Suburbs” embodies the touchstones that make us celebrate the past, enjoy today, and be ahead of the curve for tomorrow. We champion the vitality and accessibility that makes Elgin a truly great place. It truly is “The City in the Suburbs”.

Region Characteristics





Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness










   The City of Elgin has everything you could ask for. Its roots run deep as a bustling city in its own right.

Elgin can authentically boast of its own proud accomplishments and innovations, rich heritage, active business climate and robust economic development, education focus and thriving arts and cultural amenities.

The City in the Suburbs is authentic, the ideal reflection of what the community is and what the community aspires to be in the future.

Our close proximity, 35 miles northwest of Chicago, has kept Elgin an ever-bustling entity for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. But it has kept fiercely independent to grow with its own identity and achieved its status as an award-winning All American City. Elgin has a quality of life and accessibility that are unusual for a city including cultural, entertainment and recreation opportunities that are not available in surrounding suburbs.

‘The City in the Suburbs” embodies the touchstones that make us celebrate the past, enjoy today, and be ahead of the curve for tomorrow. We champion the vitality and accessibility that makes Elgin a truly great place. It truly is “The City in the Suburbs”.


Cultural Activities





The list is dizzying. The number, range and depth of arts organizations which perform and/or are based in Elgin put any other suburb to shame and proves Elgin’s new slogan: “The City in the Suburbs.”

Elgin offers a wide variety of museums, performance halls, and festivals. It is "home" to the second largest orchestra in Illinois, the ElginSymphony Orchestra. In addition, Elgin has its own opera, two professional adult choral groups, professional dance groups, and numerous theatre companies. For children, Elgin offers the Elgin Children's Chorus, which has performed internationally, and the Elgin Youth Symphony as well as many youth theatre groups.

Elgin is also known for its historic architecture and landmarks from the Victorian era. The Gifford Park Association annual house tour will not disappoint those interested in viewing the interiors and exteriors of homes in Elgin. Or, enjoy a little game of I Spy Downtown Elgin Architectural Hunt by downloading the map and clues.

The strong base of arts organizations and individual artists that we have in Elgin truly sets us apart from our neighbors. Elgin is now becoming a destination for the arts.

Artspace Inc., a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization, has chosen to adapt the old Swan Department Store and transform it into a low-cost artists’ facility in Elgin. The Elgin Artspace Lofts will transform an historic Sears and Roebuck store in downtown Elgin into an arts facility that includes 55 units of affordable live/work space for artists and their families, plus 6,000 square feet of retail and community space for arts-friendly businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Elgin’s strong arts presence also helps attract new companies to the city because most companies aren’t just looking for a building to rent. They are also looking for a community with a good quality of life for their employees.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s leadership maintains a close relationship with the German and French Consul-Generals in Chicago because much of the music the symphony plays was written by German and French composers. More recently, they initiated a similar relationship with the Mexican Consul-General because of Elgin’s large Hispanic community and because they are performing more music by Latin composers. Symphony leaders hope that these close relationships with foreign consulates will also please the many international corporations which have a presence in Elgin and make their executives feel welcome.

We know that the arts in Elgin will continue to grow stronger, attracting more and more professionals and admirers.

Public transportation




O’Hare International Airport is a 30 minute drive from Elgin via Interstate 90. Chicago's Midway International Airport is approximately 40 miles from Elgin. Corporate jets and other general aviation aircraft use nearby DuPage Airport (11 miles from Elgin) or Schaumburg Regional Airport (10 miles from Elgin.)

Medical Facilities


Elgin is home to two major hospitals. Leading, cutting-edge healthcare treatments are here in the City in the Suburbs. With excellence in healthcare services, Elgin is now a destination for patients and their families from all over the Fox River Valley who can concentrate on overcoming their difficulties and not be burdened with the added stress of driving out of Elgin for care.

Home to two top-nationally rated hospitals which have each served the greater Elgin community for over 100 years, Provena Saint Joseph Hospital and Sherman Hospital belong to an elite group at the forefront of medical care who on a national level continually score high in specialized fields.

Provena Saint Jospeh Hospital

Provena Saint Joseph Hospital has been transformed over the past few years with the completion of its 163,000 sq. ft. expansion and modernization project, anchored by a new four-story bed tower and new regional cancer care center.

Sherman Hospital

Sherman Hospital opened its replacement hospital featuring a 6-story inpatient bed tower with 255 beds in private rooms. The hospital features a 15-acre geothermal lake, the largest geothermal lake in the world. Energy produced from the lake heats and cools the new hospital making it one of the most energy efficient healthcare facilities in the country.

St. Alexius Medical Center, located in Hoffman Estates, is a 331-bed community hospital. It is part of the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and has provided outstanding healthcare services to Elgin area residents for 30 years.

An extensive network of specialized secondary and tertiary care providers are supplemented with home health care and hospice organizations, clinics, retirement and nursing homes.



What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Elgin Area, Illinois?

Elgin, IL, gets 36 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 33 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 104.

On average, there are 190 sunny days per year in Elgin, IL. The July high is around 83 degrees. The January low is 11. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 45 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  13  21  30
 Feb  16  26  35
 Mar  25  36  46
 Apr  36  48  60
 May  46  58  71
 Jun  56  69  81
 Jul  61  73  84
 Aug  60  71  83
 Sep  51  63  75
 Oct  39  51  63
 Nov  29  39  48
 Dec  17  26  34

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  30  5
 Feb  0  26  3
 Mar  0  23  0
 Apr  0  10  0
 May  1  1  0
 Jun  4  0  0
 Jul  6  0  0
 Aug  4  0  0
 Sep  1  0  0
 Oct  0  7  0
 Nov  0  18  0
 Dec  0  28  3

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  2 "  9  17 %
 Feb  2 "  8  20 %
 Mar  2 "  10  28 %
 Apr  3 "  12  36 %
 May  4 "  12  47 %
 Jun  4 "  11  57 %
 Jul  4 "  9  63 %
 Aug  5 "  10  63 %
 Sep  4 "  9  54 %
 Oct  3 "  10  41 %
 Nov  3 "  11  32 %
 Dec  2 "  11  21 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  11 "  19  7
 Feb  7 "  14  5
 Mar  4 "  5  3
 Apr  1 "  1  1
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  1 "  2  2
 Dec  9 "  13  7


Natural Disaster Areas



Cost of Living for Elgin Area, IL

Elgin Area, Illinois cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

Cost of Living

Demographics

Race

Religion

Political Party

Age

Senior Housing Options





From urban, suburban, historical, and everything in between - Elgin has a neighborhood and home just for you! You can buy a spacious, multi-bedroom home with an expansive yard for what you'd pay for a tiny condo in the large city. But if it's a sleek city condo or row house with a rooftop deck you want, we have those too.

Elgin is a city that will make you feel welcome and at home. Our community is culturally diverse, values self-expression and prides itself on being open, friendly, and creative - but our residents all have one thing in common: they proudly call Elgin home.

And remember our location is unique: any place in the world seems to be only a hop, skip, or a jump away! Metra, the area’s local commuter train, offers direct access to downtown Chicago from three Elgin stations. Home owners also have easy access to I-90, which puts our customers only half an hour from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. These conveniences and many more make new homes in Elgin Illinois the perfect place to live without the travel restrictions.

Urban


With trendy loft condos in historic storefront buildings or new townhomes along the beautiful river walk, living in downtown Elgin, Illinois offers an urban lifestyle, at a fraction of the cost in Chicago. Offering a quick walk to Metra, downtown restaurants, shops, post office, library, and many other downtown Elgin ammedities, young professionals are finding downtown Elgin the trendy place to be! In addition, Elgin’s downtown is fast becoming the arts center for the suburbs, offering many theatre performances, nightclubs and arts activities centered right in Elgin’s downtown area.

Surburban


Home owners in the Elgin area have access to almost 1,200 acres of parks and scenic riverfront areas, and over 4,000 acres of forest preserves, nature trails and bike paths. Elgin, Illinois is a great place for recreational family activities such as visiting the Historic Lord’s Park with features like an aquatic park, a zoo, picnic areas and a museum. Another park available to Elgin locals is Wing Park which has features like sports fields, tennis courts, an aquatic center, a band shell and a play area. Elgin also has over 40 public and private golf courses available for enjoyment and relaxation. Moving to Elgin Illinois has many benefits for customers of all ages due to the many local activities this city provides.

Historical


To protect our community's heritage, the Elgin City Council and other community leaders have designated four historic districts. Elgin’s first local historic district was designated in 1981, and was successfully placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Elgin’s second historic district became official in February 1996. Consisting mainly of homes built between 1886 and 1920, the Spring / Douglas Historic District recognizes the high level of architectural variety found in Elgin’s northeast neighborhoods. This district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

The third historic district, Elgin National Watch Factory Historic District, was added in 1997. This area of town surrounds the location of the Elgin Watch factory and consists mostly of worker’s cottages and vernacular houses.

The last historic district added to the city was in January 2007, the DC Cook/Lovell Historic District. This area of town was developed around the David C Cook Publishing Company.

Over the last twenty years, millions of dollars have been invested in these and other older neighborhoods to restore and renovate hundreds of homes, from spacious vintage Victorians to modest workers cottages. City grant dollars coupled with private investment has revitalized these beautiful old neighborhoods, bringing new families and new energy to these beautiful old neighborhoods. Located near the downtown area, these neighborhoods offer the convenience of walking to amenities such as the Gail Borden Public Library, Metra Station, Hemmens Cultural Center and Centre of Elgin park & recreation facility.

Everything In Between


Where do you want to live? Whether you are in the market for a quaint family-friendly neighborhood bungalow, a high-rise condo downtown, an age-restricted community that promotes a quiet, child-free lifestyle, a retirement community, a gated community or an upscale new home with a wealth of amenities, there is no shortage to the supply of housing options in Elgin.

Senior Assistance in Elgin Area, IL

Elgin Area, Illinois offers the following assistance for seniors:



What Job or Volunteer Opportunities Does Elgin Area Offer For Retirees?

Elgin has 5,600 diverse businesses and low unemployment. Businesses are always looking for employees. Over 50 volunteer organizations populate the City including a center for seniors.

Additional Information

Visitor Information


Back to: Area, Characteristics, Cost, Amenities, Climate, Demographics, Housing, Assistance

     







Disclaimer Privacy Contact Us