2025 Compare Cities Education:
Elgin, IL vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 18.7% less per student than Elgin.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 7.7% higher in Des Moines than in Elgin. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 8.5% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Elgin
 Elgin, ILDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$15,271  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio14.42  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor659  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.8.2%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.21.6%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.26.0%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.0%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Elgin    9 Reviews

When I first moved to Elgin 2 years ago I did not like it. I lived in a mobile home park near the river and highway 90 in a senior community that over prices it's lot  More

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Hi, as a way of updating the post for Elgin and providing a rebuttal for some of the negative reviews, I've decided to post on this board. I've lived in Elgin since  More

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Over 15 years ago

I have lived in Elgin my whole life and it is very sad to read these comments about my town.... I'm a senior at South Elgin High School and I will be graduating this  More

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Reviews for Des Moines    53 Reviews

Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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