Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Sacramento
California
10
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $154k less ($296,100 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,592)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $7,033/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,033 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
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
Denton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
73% lower
204.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$154k less
$296,100 vs $450,500
Denton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$7,033
$78,954 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Denton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Sacramento wins 10. 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 Denton to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $450,500 median home), income ($71,921 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Sacramento, CA are about 1,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.