Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 16 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,605 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $55,935/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Elk Grove
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,935 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than El Monte
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.4%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$55,935
$115,864 vs $59,929/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
55% lower
189.9 vs 423.2 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$37k less
$560,500 vs $597,200
Elk Grove
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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. El Monte 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 El Monte to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $560,500 median home), income ($59,929 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Elk Grove, CA are about 353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.