Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Rent averages $411/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $20k less ($540,400 vs $560,500)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $30,011/yr
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $30,011 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$20k less
$540,400 vs $560,500
Denver
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Median Income
$30,011
$115,864 vs $85,853/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
81% lower
189.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 176,105 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 11 and Elk Grove wins 12. 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 Denver to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $560,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Elk Grove, CA are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.