Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 21 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $691/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,076)
Homes cost $94k less ($466,300 vs $560,500)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $51,385/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.4%)
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,385 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$94k less
$466,300 vs $560,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.9 on the COL index
Elk Grove
Median Income
$51,385
$115,864 vs $64,479/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
63% lower
189.9 vs 518.1 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 21 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 7 and Elk Grove wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $560,500 median home), income ($64,479 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Elk Grove, CA are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.