Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $21,523 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($560,500 vs $833,300)
25% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $151/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,227)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $21,523/yr
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$21,523
$137,387 vs $115,864/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.6 on the COL index
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
25% lower
189.9 vs 254.4 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$273k less
$560,500 vs $833,300
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $115,864 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 176,105 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 10 and Elk Grove wins 13. 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 Arlington to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $560,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Elk Grove, CA are about 2,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.