Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Garden Grove
Households earn $29,725 more per year on average
Homes cost $142k less ($560,500 vs $702,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,887 vs $2,076)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $29,725/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Elk Grove
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
$29,725
$115,864 vs $86,139/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
31% lower
189.9 vs 276.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$142k less
$560,500 vs $702,600
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 82.5°F
Garden Grove
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,887⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $86,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 15 and Garden Grove wins 7. 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 Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $702,600 median home), income ($115,864 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Garden Grove, CA are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.