Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 17 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,729 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Erie
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Erie
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $459k less ($101,500 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1267/mo less ($809 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $72,729/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$72,729
$115,864 vs $43,135/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
49% lower
189.9 vs 375.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$459k less
$101,500 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 17 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 17 and Erie wins 6. 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 Elk Grove to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $101,500 median home), income ($115,864 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Erie, PA are about 2,172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.