Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Tracy
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $57k less ($560,500 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $86/mo less ($2,076 vs $2,162)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Median income trails Elk Grove by $4,147/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$4,147
$115,864 vs $111,717/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
37% lower
189.9 vs 301.4 per 100k
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$57k less
$560,500 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 15 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($115,864 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Tracy, CA are about 48 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.