Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,887 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Collins
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Homes cost $63k less ($497,400 vs $560,500)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $36,887/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$36,887
$115,864 vs $78,977/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
30% lower
189.9 vs 272.7 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 87.4°F
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$63k less
$497,400 vs $560,500
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Fort Collins wins 11. 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $497,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Fort Collins, CO are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.