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
Placerville
Elk Grove
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 27%
vs61 · Top 39%
Growth
67 · Top 21%
vs64 · Top 26%
Climate
70 · Bottom 47%
vs79 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
21 · Bottom 14%
vs63 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
57 · Bottom 16%
vs69 · Bottom 33%
Access
85 · Bottom 29%
vs95 · Top 36%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 25%
vs69 · Top 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Placerville | Elk Grove | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,762 | 179,155 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,274 | $125,924 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,994 | $46,347 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,843/sq mi | 4,205/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $473,100 | $630,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,234 | $2,262 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.3% | 73.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 38.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 8.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 36 | 1,144 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 6.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 414.3% | -17.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 32.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 46.8 | 39.4 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Placerville
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake.
Elk Grove
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.
Placerville
56
Your Score
51
Area Score
Elk Grove
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Placerville, CA · Elk Grove, CA · How this is calculated: methodology