Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
San Bernardino, 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
San Bernardino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,541 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($347,100 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $757/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $54,541/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$54,541
$115,864 vs $61,323/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
79% lower
189.9 vs 897.1 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$213k less
$347,100 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | San Bernardino, 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 | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $347,100 median home), income ($115,864 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.