Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Elgin's standout: it reports less crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns. Overall it grades B+, 13th of 131 graded towns in Oklahoma. Its public schools beat 87% of Oklahoma towns on state tests and graduation. 27% of the land in Elgin is conserved, above both the Oklahoma town median (6.9%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 5 of Oklahoma’s 229 towns score lower on cost of living. Elgin's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 91% of U.S. towns.
Where Elgin beats most towns.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Elgin Es | PK–4 | 946 |
| Elgin MS | 5–8 | 799 |
| Elgin HS | 9–12 | 789 |
2,156 counted in 2010 and 3,656 in 2020; an estimated 3,653 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Oklahoma), ordered by how far Elgin is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 178 in 1910, 3,656 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1949 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Elgin, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Elgin.
Elgin has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns, looks healthier within Oklahoma than nationally and sends most of its workers to Lawton and beyond.
Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
At 0.3 per 1,000 residents, Elgin’s property crime rate is below both Oklahoma’s towns (14.1) and U.S. towns (9.9). Among 124 Oklahoma towns, just 1 have a lower violent crime rate than Elgin.
| Elgin | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.3 per 1,000 residents | 14.1 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.3 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Its public schools are run by the Elgin school district. Its three schools are below. The largest public high school is Elgin HS, with 789 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin EsLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 946 | A− |
| Elgin HSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 789 | A |
| Elgin MSTop results in townGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 799 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OK on state tests and graduation
The typical Elgin home is worth about $307,000, up 5.6% in a year, 39% above the Oklahoma typical home. The median rent in Elgin is $1,225 a month.
| Elgin | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 75% | 62% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,225 a month | $870 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0.7 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Osborne Park | 0.7 mi | 11 |
| 2. 4th Pl Splash Pad Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Elgin has 330 jobs for its 1,204 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Elgin for work: only 3% work in town. Elgin’s average trip to work is 29 minutes. Only 8 of the 131 Oklahoma towns we compare have a higher median household income than Elgin.
| Elgin | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.2% | 22% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $96,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 18% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
July afternoons average 95.1°, hotter than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 28.6°.
Elgin has mild winters and hot summers. About 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.
| Elgin | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 93°F | 85°F |
| January low | 29°F | 28°F | 22°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Within Oklahoma it is healthier than 88% of the 131 graded towns: much of Oklahoma scores lower on these measures. Its widest gap with Oklahoma is heart disease: 4.6% of its 2,430 adults have heart disease, against 7.3% statewide.
31% of adults have high blood pressure in Elgin. Among 131 Oklahoma towns, just 4 have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Elgin. 26% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Elgin.
| Elgin | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.2% | 14% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 40% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 36% |
| What stands out | Elgin | OK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.6% | 7.3% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.5% | 16.4% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 70.2% | 76.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 2020, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Elgin.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
1 within 15 miles of the center of Elgin
About 8 of every 100 Elgin residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oklahoma.
Where Elgin’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Oklahoma, US
Elgin is a city in northeastern Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,656 at the time of the 2020 Census, a 69.6% increase over the 2,156 reported in the 2010 census, which was itself a 78% increase from the 1,210 reported at the 2000 census. It is included in the Lawton, Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located about 16 miles north-northeast of Lawton at the intersection of US Route 277 with the western terminus of Oklahoma State Highway 17. It is the site of Fort Sill National Cemetery.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
By most measures, yes. Elgin grades B+ overall, better than 67% of U.S. towns and #13 of 131 in Oklahoma. It grades B for health, A+ for safety and A for schools.
That is 5.1 years of the area's median household income ($60,665 across the Lawton, OK metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
2 notable people were born here, including Logan Hall and Dusty Deevers.