Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,178 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $301k less ($259,500 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $653/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $39,178/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$39,178
$115,864 vs $76,686/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
31% lower
189.9 vs 275.4 per 100k
Irving
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$301k less
$259,500 vs $560,500
Irving
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.4% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Irving, 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 | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 11 and Irving wins 12. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $259,500 median home), income ($115,864 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Irving, TX are about 1,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.