Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 16 of 22 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Elk Grove
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,076)
Homes cost $71k less ($489,400 vs $560,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $46,136/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
85% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $46,136 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.4%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$71k less
$489,400 vs $560,500
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$46,136
$115,864 vs $69,728/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
85% lower
189.9 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 16 of 22 categories. Compton wins 6 and Elk Grove wins 16. 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 Compton to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $560,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Elk Grove, CA are about 359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.