Des Moines, WA vs Sacramento, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Des Moines
64.6
#1684 nationally
Sacramento
66.2
#1576 nationally
Sacramento leads in average commute (26.2 min vs 30.2 min). Sacramento leads in walk score (47 vs 41). Des Moines leads in median household income ($81,362 vs $73,924).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Des Moines, WA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.6 (#1684) | 66.2 (#1576) |
| Population | 31,988 | 528,001 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $607,792 | $480,488 |
| Median Household Income | $81,362 | $73,924 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 26.2 min |
| Walk Score | 41 | 47 |
| Crime Level | 8.1 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 123 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+19.7 |
D
64.6 Score
Des Moines, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$607,792
Population
31,988
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Des Moines, WA →
D
66.2 Score
Sacramento, CA
California's capital with farm-to-fork pride
Median Home
$480,488
Population
528,001
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Pacific
View Sacramento, CA →
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