Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,842 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Tempe
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($382,100 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $604/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $43,842/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$43,842
$115,864 vs $72,022/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
60% lower
189.9 vs 470.3 per 100k
Tempe
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$178k less
$382,100 vs $560,500
Tempe
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 8 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $382,100 median home), income ($115,864 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.