Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 9 of 17 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Sacramento
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,592)
Cons
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sacramento by $14,475/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.3%)
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,475 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.3%)
Homes cost $16k less ($450,500 vs $466,300)
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
31% lower
518.1 vs 754.9 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.9 on the COL index
Sacramento
Median Income
$14,475
$78,954 vs $64,479/yr
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$16k less
$450,500 vs $466,300
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 17 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 9 of 17 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 9 and Sacramento wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $450,500 median home), income ($64,479 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 5 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.