Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 16 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than South Fulton
Households earn $38,376 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($242,200 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $615/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,076)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $38,376/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$38,376
$115,864 vs $77,488/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
60% lower
189.9 vs 470.5 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$318k less
$242,200 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 16 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 16 and South Fulton wins 7. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $242,200 median home), income ($115,864 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and South Fulton, GA are about 2,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.