Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,899 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Sacramento, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $90k less ($450,500 vs $540,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
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 unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Denver by $6,899/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$6,899
$85,853 vs $78,954/yr
Denver
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Violent Crime
24% lower
754.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$90k less
$450,500 vs $540,400
Sacramento
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 11 and Sacramento wins 12. 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 Denver to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Sacramento, CA are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.