Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Households earn $33,687 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Homes cost $579k less ($560,500 vs $1,139,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $346/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,422)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $33,687/yr
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.0%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$33,687
$149,551 vs $115,864/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
27% lower
138.6 vs 189.9 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$579k less
$560,500 vs $1,139,500
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $115,864 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellevue 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 Bellevue to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $560,500 median home), income ($149,551 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Elk Grove, CA are about 636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.