Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 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
Providence
Rhode Island
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,499 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Providence
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Providence
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($293,000 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $862/mo less ($1,214 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $54,499/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$54,499
$115,864 vs $61,365/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
31% lower
189.9 vs 276.7 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$268k less
$293,000 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 17 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 17 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $293,000 median home), income ($115,864 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Providence, RI are about 2,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.