Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 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
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,130 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Yakima
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
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 7% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($243,300 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1062/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $60,130/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$60,130
$115,864 vs $55,734/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
65% lower
189.9 vs 544.3 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$317k less
$243,300 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 15 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($115,864 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Yakima, WA are about 567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.