Sacramento, California
California's capital with farm-to-fork pride
U.S. News (2025)
#43 Best Places to Live
Forbes (2024)
#6 Best Cities for Young Professionals
WhereAtHome Score
66.2
Dout of 100
Overview
Sacramento offers a more affordable California experience than the Bay Area, with access to Lake Tahoe, wine country, and outdoor recreation. The state capital has a strong government employment base and growing tech presence. A revitalized downtown and farm-to-fork food scene have attracted young professionals.
Key Highlights
- Most affordable major California metro
- Farm-to-fork capital of America
- Access to Lake Tahoe and wine country
- State government employment base
- Growing tech and healthcare sectors
- Historic Old Sacramento district
Key Metrics
2024 Presidential Election
Sacramento County (county-level results)
Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more
Climate
Summer High
93°F
Winter Low
39°F
Annual Rainfall
18"
Sunny Days
269
Amenities & Infrastructure
225+ Parks
Green spaces and recreation
8 Major Hospitals
Healthcare access
4 Universities
Higher education institutions
Public Transit Available
Bus, rail, or metro service
Major Employers
Score Breakdown
6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.
Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)
How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)
Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)
Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)
Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)
Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)
Location
Compare with another city
Start ComparisonLast Updated: 2026-07-01
Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.
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