Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 17 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $36,869 more per year on average
Homes cost $149k less ($560,500 vs $709,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,076)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $36,869/yr
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$36,869
$115,864 vs $78,995/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
72% lower
189.9 vs 676.4 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$149k less
$560,500 vs $709,700
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 17 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 17 and Long Beach wins 5. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $709,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Long Beach, CA are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.