In this case, it is more based on location than elevations itself. With the low coming across the bay towards DE, it is pulling in warmer air off the bay/ocean and that warm air warms the upper atmosphere columns, hence us getting sleet and freezing rain.
places out west are further from the low, so that warmer air doesn't rotate in nearly as much and they stay colder longer, and at the surface. Eventually places out west will warm too but stay cold at the surface (this is where their elevation is useful) so they will have a much more prolonged freezing event as the upper columns will be above 32, but the surface at or below freezing.