Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 20 categories
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,853 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
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
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($305,600 vs $560,500)
91% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Rent averages $764/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,076)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $52,853/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$52,853
$115,864 vs $63,011/yr
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
91% lower
16.5 vs 189.9 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$255k less
$305,600 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 20 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($115,864 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.