Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 21 categories
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $97k less ($560,500 vs $657,400)
Households earn $10,330 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 22.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $108/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,184)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Median income trails Elk Grove by $10,330/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$10,330
$115,864 vs $105,534/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
35% lower
189.9 vs 293.7 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$97k less
$560,500 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $105,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 21 categories. Elk Grove wins 14 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 7. 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $657,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.