Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 14 of 22 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Sacramento
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Households earn $5,282 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($450,500 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $222/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5.6%)
Median income trails Downey by $5,282/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$5,282
$84,236 vs $78,954/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
39% lower
460.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$229k less
$450,500 vs $679,000
Sacramento
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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 14 of 22 categories. Downey wins 8 and Sacramento wins 14. 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 Downey to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $450,500 median home), income ($84,236 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.