Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,185 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($412,500 vs $560,500)
20% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,076)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $10,185/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$10,185
$115,864 vs $105,679/yr
Plano
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
20% lower
151.6 vs 189.9 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$148k less
$412,500 vs $560,500
Plano
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $105,679 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 7 and Plano wins 16. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $412,500 median home), income ($115,864 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Plano, TX are about 1,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.