Elk Grove CA vs Eugene OR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Elk Grove, CA

California · Population: 177,221

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

Eugene, OR

Oregon · Population: 177,520

  • Median HH Income$63,836
  • Median Home Price$478,489
  • Unemployment7.6%
  • Bachelor's+44.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Elk Grove
177,221
Eugene
177,520
Eugene +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Elk Grove
N/A
Eugene
N/A
Median Age
Elk Grove
39.0
Eugene
35.4
Eugene +
Foreign Born
Elk Grove
25.0%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
6.8%
White
Elk Grove
34.9%
Eugene
78.9%
Eugene +
Black
Elk Grove
10.9%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
1.8%
Asian
Elk Grove
31.8%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
3.9%
Hispanic
Elk Grove
18.0%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
11.4%
Spanish at Home
Elk Grove
N/A
Eugene
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Elk Grove
$122,229
Elk Grove +
Eugene
$63,836
Per Capita Income
Elk Grove
$44,932
Elk Grove +
Eugene
$41,035
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Elk Grove
$77,230
Elk Grove +
Eugene
$63,691
Unemployment Rate
Elk Grove
6.7%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
7.6%
Poverty Rate
Elk Grove
7.4%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
18.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Elk Grove
38.0%
Eugene
44.2%
Eugene +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Elk Grove
$637,623
Eugene
$478,489
Eugene +
Homeownership Rate
Elk Grove
73.9%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
47.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Elk Grove
503
Eugene
355
Eugene +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Elk Grove
2388
Elk Grove +
Eugene
3001

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Elk Grove
26.2%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
34.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Elk Grove
10.9%
Eugene
9.4%
Eugene +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Elk Grove
15.9%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
19.9%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Elk Grove
6.7%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
8.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Elk Grove
13.2%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
15.1%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Elk Grove
10.1%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
11.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Elk Grove
N/A
Eugene
52.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Elk Grove
N/A
Eugene
46.1 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Elk Grove
7.9 µg/m³
Elk Grove +
Eugene
9.0 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Elk Grove
75.0%
Elk Grove +
Eugene
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Elk Grove
33.7 min
Eugene
19.9 min
Eugene +

Which City is Right for You?

Elk Grove leads in median household income at $122,229, while eugene offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $478,489. On public safety, Eugene is safer with a violent crime rate of 355 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Elk Grove. Elk Grove has a lower unemployment rate at 6.7%, 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%.

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About Elk Grove & Eugene