Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Sacramento
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $109k less ($341,700 vs $450,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,234 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 107°F
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Median income trails Buckeye by $15,234/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$15,234
$94,188 vs $78,954/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
78% lower
166.8 vs 754.9 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$109k less
$341,700 vs $450,500
Buckeye
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 94.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 14 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 Buckeye to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($94,188 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Sacramento, CA are about 607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.