Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Elk Grove
California
9
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,706 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Elk Grove by $9,850/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,850 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arvada
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Median Income
$9,850
$115,864 vs $106,014/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
34% lower
189.9 vs 285.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 38.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 73.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Elk Grove wins 9. 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 Arvada to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $560,500 median home), income ($106,014 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Elk Grove, CA are about 874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.