Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,808 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Tyler
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Tyler
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($205,200 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $963/mo less ($1,113 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $52,808/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$52,808
$115,864 vs $63,056/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
51% lower
189.9 vs 391.2 per 100k
Tyler
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$355k less
$205,200 vs $560,500
Tyler
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $205,200 median home), income ($115,864 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Tyler, TX are about 1,523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.