Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Santa Rosa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Households earn $23,260 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $101k less ($560,500 vs $661,700)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $23,260/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Elk Grove
Median Income
$23,260
$115,864 vs $92,604/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
45% lower
189.9 vs 342.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$101k less
$560,500 vs $661,700
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $2,024⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Elk Grove is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 14 and Santa Rosa wins 8. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $661,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 72 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.