Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 11 of 21 categories
Elk Grove
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Roseville
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $36k less ($560,500 vs $596,700)
Households earn $3,599 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Roseville, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,940 vs $2,076)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Median income trails Elk Grove by $3,599/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$3,599
$115,864 vs $112,265/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
13% lower
189.9 vs 219.2 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$36k less
$560,500 vs $596,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.9 on the COL index
Roseville
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,940⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $112,265 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 68.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Roseville leads 11 of 21 categories. Elk Grove wins 10 and Roseville wins 11. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $596,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Roseville, CA are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.