Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Shreveport
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,897 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (6.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Shreveport
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($168,900 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1131/mo less ($945 vs $2,076)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $69,897/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$69,897
$115,864 vs $45,967/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
85% lower
189.9 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
6.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$392k less
$168,900 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 14 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $168,900 median home), income ($115,864 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.