Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Elk Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Orlando
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,572 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Orlando
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($332,700 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $567/mo less ($1,509 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 56°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $49,572/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$49,572
$115,864 vs $66,292/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
77% lower
189.9 vs 835.8 per 100k
Orlando
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$228k less
$332,700 vs $560,500
Orlando
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elk Grove wins 11 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $332,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Orlando, FL are about 2,395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.