Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 17 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,710 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Portsmouth
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 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Portsmouth
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($213,300 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $851/mo less ($1,225 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $58,710/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$58,710
$115,864 vs $57,154/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
75% lower
189.9 vs 752.4 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$347k less
$213,300 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 17 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 17 and Portsmouth wins 6. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $213,300 median home), income ($115,864 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.