Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Elk Grove leads 16 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,427 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Gresham
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 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Gresham
Gresham, OR
Pros
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,452 vs $2,076)
Homes cost $149k less ($411,700 vs $560,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $46,427/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$46,427
$115,864 vs $69,437/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
54% lower
189.9 vs 410.2 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Median Home Value
$149k less
$411,700 vs $560,500
Gresham
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 55.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 16 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 16 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $411,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Gresham, OR are about 493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.