Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 22 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
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,794 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Ontario
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Ontario, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,076)
Homes cost $48k less ($513,000 vs $560,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $37,794/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$37,794
$115,864 vs $78,070/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
30% lower
189.9 vs 272.2 per 100k
Ontario
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Home Value
$48k less
$513,000 vs $560,500
Ontario
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Ontario wins 10. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $513,000 median home), income ($115,864 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Ontario, CA are about 369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.