Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 19 categories
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Households earn $6,596 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.2%)
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($393,700 vs $560,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,908 vs $2,076)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $6,596/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$6,596
$115,864 vs $109,268/yr
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.9 on the COL index
Germantown
Median Home Value
$167k less
$393,700 vs $560,500
Germantown
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $109,268 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 65.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 19 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $393,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Germantown, MD are about 2,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.