Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Elizabeth compared to Elk Grove? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Elizabeth | Metric | Elk Grove | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128 | Cost of Living Index | 128 | +0.0% |
| $425,000 | Median Home Price | $560,000 | +31.8% |
| $1,650 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,950 | +18.2% |
| $48,500 | Median Household Income | $96,200 | +98.4% |
| 2.4% | Property Tax Rate | 0.9% | -62.5% |
| 4.8% | Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | -18.8% |
| 34 min | Average Commute | 30 min | -11.8% |
| 34.2 | Median Age | 35.9 | +5.0% |
| 137,000 | Metro Population | 178,000 | +29.9% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Elizabeth costs $3,123/month (PITI) compared to $3,415/month in Elk Grove — a difference of $292/month or $3,504/year. The price-to-income ratio is 8.8x in Elizabeth versus 5.8x in Elk Grove, suggesting Elk Grove is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 11.7 years to save a down payment in Elizabeth compared to 7.8 years in Elk Grove.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Elizabeth | Elk Grove |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $48,500 | $96,200 |
| State Income Tax | $1,132 | $4,974 |
| Federal Income Tax | $3,691 | $12,613 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $3,710 | $7,359 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $10,200/yr | $5,040/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.6% | 7.2% |
| Total Tax Burden | $8,533 (17.6%) | $24,946 (25.9%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $39,967 | $71,254 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $8,533 in Elizabeth (17.6% effective) versus $24,946 in Elk Grove (25.9% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $39,967 in Elizabeth and $71,254 in Elk Grove. Property taxes add $10,200/year on the median Elizabeth home versus $5,040/year in Elk Grove.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $48,500 in Elizabeth (COL 128) and relocate to Elk Grove (COL 128), you would need $48,500 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means your salary should stay roughly the same.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Elizabeth is 34 minutes versus 30 minutes in Elk Grove, a difference of 4 minutes each way. Elk Grove's lower unemployment rate of 3.9% versus 4.8% suggests a stronger job market. Elk Grove skews slightly older with a median age of 35.9 vs 34.2 in Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Elk Grove have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 128 and 128 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Elk Grove is $560,000, which is $135,000 more than Elizabeth's median of $425,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,950/month in Elk Grove vs $1,650/month in Elizabeth, a difference of $300/month or $3,600/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $48,500 salary in Elizabeth is equivalent to $48,500 in Elk Grove. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Elizabeth's COL index of 128 vs Elk Grove's 128. Conversely, $96,200 in Elk Grove equals $96,200 in Elizabeth.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $8,533 (17.6% effective rate) in Elizabeth vs $24,946 (25.9% effective rate) in Elk Grove. Property taxes on the median home are $10,200/year in Elizabeth (2.4% rate) vs $5,040/year in Elk Grove (0.9% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.6% in New Jersey and 7.2% in California.
Elizabeth median household income: $48,500/yr. Elk Grove median household income: $96,200/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,650 in Elizabeth vs $1,950 in Elk Grove. Annualized that is $19,800 vs $23,400.
Elizabeth offers a lower cost of living (index 128 vs 128), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Elk Grove typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Elizabeth and Elk Grove numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Elizabeth vs Elk Grove cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .