Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $29,105 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($383,600 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $438/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $29,105/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$29,105
$115,864 vs $86,759/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
25% lower
189.9 vs 254.7 per 100k
Peoria
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$177k less
$383,600 vs $560,500
Peoria
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 5 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $383,600 median home), income ($115,864 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.