Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Huntsville
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,990 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Huntsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Huntsville
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.6%)
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($236,300 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1056/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $47,990/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$47,990
$115,864 vs $67,874/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
61% lower
189.9 vs 483.2 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.1°F
Huntsville
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$324k less
$236,300 vs $560,500
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Huntsville wins 11. 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 Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $236,300 median home), income ($115,864 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Huntsville, AL are about 1,938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.