Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 11 of 21 categories
Elk Grove
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Mesa
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,098 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Mesa
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($327,700 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $724/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $42,098/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$42,098
$115,864 vs $73,766/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
61% lower
189.9 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$233k less
$327,700 vs $560,500
Mesa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mesa leads 11 of 21 categories. Elk Grove wins 10 and Mesa 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $327,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Mesa, AZ are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.