Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Santa Clara, 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
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Homes cost $880k less ($560,500 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $765/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,841)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $49,488/yr
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,488 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$880k less
$560,500 vs $1,440,200
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$49,488
$165,352 vs $115,864/yr
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elk Grove wins 11 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($115,864 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Santa Clara, CA are about 79 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.