Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 13 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
St. Petersburg
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,531 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($289,000 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $666/mo less ($1,410 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $45,531/yr
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$45,531
$115,864 vs $70,333/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
69% lower
189.9 vs 619.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 89.6°F
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$272k less
$289,000 vs $560,500
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 13 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 9 and St. Petersburg wins 13. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $289,000 median home), income ($115,864 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 2,341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.