Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood 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 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $33,078 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Rent averages $411/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $66k less ($494,100 vs $560,500)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $33,078/yr
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$33,078
$115,864 vs $82,786/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
76% lower
189.9 vs 787.2 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$66k less
$494,100 vs $560,500
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 11 and Lakewood 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $494,100 median home), income ($115,864 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.