Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Garland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,820 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Garland
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($229,000 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $655/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,076)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $44,820/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$44,820
$115,864 vs $71,044/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
18% lower
189.9 vs 232.7 per 100k
Garland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Median Home Value
$332k less
$229,000 vs $560,500
Garland
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $229,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $71,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Garland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 15 and Garland wins 8. 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 Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $229,000 median home), income ($115,864 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Garland, TX are about 1,436 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.