Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Elk Grove
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($341,700 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,076)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $21,676/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,676 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buckeye
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
12% lower
166.8 vs 189.9 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$219k less
$341,700 vs $560,500
Buckeye
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.4% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 92.6°F
Elk Grove
Median Income
$21,676
$115,864 vs $94,188/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 73.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 14 and Elk Grove wins 8. 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 Buckeye to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $560,500 median home), income ($94,188 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Elk Grove, CA are about 598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.