Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Elk Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
San Francisco
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Homes cost $788k less ($560,500 vs $1,348,700)
68% less violent crime than San Francisco
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,316)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $20,825/yr
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $20,825 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 93°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 21.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Property crime (3929.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
68% lower
189.9 vs 596.5 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$788k less
$560,500 vs $1,348,700
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
30.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$20,825
$136,689 vs $115,864/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 31.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elk Grove wins 11 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.