Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 18 of 22 categories
Concord
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007
Elk Grove
California
18
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Concord
Homes cost $146k less ($560,500 vs $706,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Households earn $8,075 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$8,075
$115,864 vs $107,789/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
61% lower
189.9 vs 484.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$146k less
$560,500 vs $706,700
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 38.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 18 of 22 categories. Concord wins 4 and Elk Grove wins 18. 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 Concord to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $560,500 median home), income ($107,789 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Elk Grove, CA are about 45 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.