Bloomington MN vs Elk Grove CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Bloomington, MN

Minnesota · Population: 71,261

  • Median HH Income$103,382
  • Median Home Price$366,438
  • Unemployment4.5%
  • Bachelor's+36.1%

Elk Grove, CA

California · Population: 177,221

  • Median HH Income$122,229
  • Median Home Price$637,623
  • Unemployment6.7%
  • Bachelor's+38.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bloomington
71,261
Elk Grove
177,221
Elk Grove +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bloomington
N/A
Elk Grove
N/A
Median Age
Bloomington
37.3
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
39.0
Foreign Born
Bloomington
14.1%
Elk Grove
25.0%
Elk Grove +
White
Bloomington
72.7%
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
34.9%
Black
Bloomington
8.6%
Elk Grove
10.9%
Elk Grove +
Asian
Bloomington
9.5%
Elk Grove
31.8%
Elk Grove +
Hispanic
Bloomington
5.1%
Elk Grove
18.0%
Elk Grove +
Spanish at Home
Bloomington
N/A
Elk Grove
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bloomington
$103,382
Elk Grove
$122,229
Elk Grove +
Per Capita Income
Bloomington
$44,640
Elk Grove
$44,932
Elk Grove +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bloomington
$69,467
Elk Grove
$77,230
Elk Grove +
Unemployment Rate
Bloomington
4.5%
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
6.7%
Poverty Rate
Bloomington
6.5%
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
7.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bloomington
36.1%
Elk Grove
38.0%
Elk Grove +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bloomington
$366,438
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
$637,623
Homeownership Rate
Bloomington
85.0%
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
73.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bloomington
284
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bloomington
1992
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
26.8%
Elk Grove
26.2%
Elk Grove +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
8.9%
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
10.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bloomington
14.2%
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
15.9%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
8.5%
Elk Grove
6.7%
Elk Grove +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
17.2%
Elk Grove
13.2%
Elk Grove +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bloomington
11.4%
Elk Grove
10.1%
Elk Grove +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bloomington
N/A
Elk Grove
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bloomington
N/A
Elk Grove
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bloomington
8.1 µg/m³
Elk Grove
7.9 µg/m³
Elk Grove +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bloomington
75.0%
Elk Grove
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bloomington
27.0 min
Bloomington +
Elk Grove
33.7 min

Which City is Right for You?

Elk Grove leads in median household income at $122,229, while bloomington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $366,438. On public safety, Bloomington is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Elk Grove. Bloomington has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and Elk Grove has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Elk Grove scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Bloomington & Elk Grove