Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $32,416 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Riverside, CA
Pros
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,076)
Homes cost $75k less ($485,500 vs $560,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $32,416/yr
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$32,416
$115,864 vs $83,448/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
68% lower
189.9 vs 589.7 per 100k
Riverside
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$75k less
$485,500 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and Riverside wins 9. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($115,864 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Riverside, CA are about 381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.