Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 17 of 22 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Sacramento
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,592)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Sacramento by $9,226/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Households earn $9,226 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $39k less ($450,500 vs $489,400)
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Income
$9,226
$78,954 vs $69,728/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
41% lower
754.9 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$39k less
$450,500 vs $489,400
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 17 of 22 categories. Compton wins 5 and Sacramento wins 17. 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 Compton to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.