Elk Grove receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Elk Grove
West Sacramento
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Growth
64 · Top 26%
vs72 · Top 14%
Climate
79 · Top 18%
vs79 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 45%
vs28 · Bottom 22%
Housing affordability
69 · Bottom 33%
vs66 · Bottom 28%
Access
95 · Top 36%
vs100 · Top 3%
Economic stability
69 · Top 32%
vs56 · Bottom 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Elk Grove | West Sacramento | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 179,155 | 54,927 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $125,924 | $93,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,347 | $41,795 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,205/sq mi | 2,558/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $630,100 | $525,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,262 | $1,665 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 60.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.9% | 34.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,144 | 416 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.4 | 7.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.9% | 246.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.1" | 18.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 34.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 39 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 22.81 | 21.27 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 50.4% | 64.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Elk Grove
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake.
West Sacramento
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Elk Grove
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
West Sacramento
65
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Elk Grove, CA · West Sacramento, CA · How this is calculated: methodology