Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Hesperia
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,166 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($337,600 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $640/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,076)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $48,166/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.4%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$48,166
$115,864 vs $67,698/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
63% lower
189.9 vs 519.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$223k less
$337,600 vs $560,500
Hesperia
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 63.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 15 and Hesperia 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $337,600 median home), income ($115,864 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Hesperia, CA are about 358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.