Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 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
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $39,532 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 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($328,700 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $809/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $39,532/yr
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$39,532
$115,864 vs $76,332/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
84% lower
189.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$232k less
$328,700 vs $560,500
Minneapolis
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $328,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.