Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Households earn $44,536 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 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($351,400 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,392 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $44,536/yr
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$44,536
$115,864 vs $71,328/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
83% lower
189.9 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 89.3°F
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$209k less
$351,400 vs $560,500
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $71,328 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 15.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 14 and Nashville-Davidson wins 8. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $351,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 1,897 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.