Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 21 categories
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $36,910 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,076)
Homes cost $110k less ($450,500 vs $560,500)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $36,910/yr
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$36,910
$115,864 vs $78,954/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
75% lower
189.9 vs 754.9 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.9 on the COL index
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$110k less
$450,500 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 21 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Sacramento 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $450,500 median home), income ($115,864 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 11 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.