Elk Grove vs Folsom
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $630,100 in Elk Grove and $755,200 in Folsom.
- Households earn more in Folsom ($139,804 vs $125,924 median).
- Folsom is growing faster: +14.3% since 2020 vs +5%.
- Commutes are shorter in Folsom (27 vs 31 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Elk Grove, CA | Folsom, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 185,007 | 91,983 |
| Growth since 2020 | +5% | +14.3% |
| People per square mile | 4,343 | 3,299 |
| Median age | 39.4 | 41.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39% | 55% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $125,924 | $139,804 |
| Median home value | $630,100 | $755,200 |
| Home value to income | 5.0× | 5.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,262 | $2,352 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 106.7 | 106.7 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 130.2 | 130.2 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Homeowners | 74% | 70% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 30.8 | 26.6 |
| Work from home | 21% | 31% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.4% | 6.3% |
| Poverty rate | 8% | 5.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 57° / 41° | 57° / 41° |
| July high / low | 94° / 61° | 94° / 61° |
| Precipitation per year | 19 in | 19 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 90 | 90 |
| Nights below freezing | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 35% | 35% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.1% | +0.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +19.9% | +19.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Elk Grove: February to May and October to November. Folsom: February to May and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Elk Grove weather by month and Folsom weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $80,000 in Elk Grove and $80,000 in Folsom. Moving from Elk Grove to Folsom, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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