Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Elk Grove leads 18 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,772 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (6.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($314,100 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,392 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $63,772/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$63,772
$115,864 vs $52,092/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
81% lower
189.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
6.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$246k less
$314,100 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 18 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 18 and Paterson wins 5. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $314,100 median home), income ($115,864 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.