Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boca Raton
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Elk Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 56°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $20,294/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $20,294 more per year on average
Homes cost $37k less ($560,500 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $94/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,170)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
10% lower
171.0 vs 189.9 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$20,294
$115,864 vs $95,570/yr
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$37k less
$560,500 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 38.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boca Raton wins 11 and Elk Grove wins 11. 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 Boca Raton to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $560,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Elk Grove, CA are about 2,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.