Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Tucson
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,815 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Tucson
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Tucson
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($218,200 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1085/mo less ($991 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $63,815/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$63,815
$115,864 vs $52,049/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
68% lower
189.9 vs 588.8 per 100k
Tucson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$342k less
$218,200 vs $560,500
Tucson
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and Tucson wins 10. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $218,200 median home), income ($115,864 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.