Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($321,800 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,592)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sacramento by $15,953/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Households earn $15,953 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Fresno
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Violent Crime
3% lower
735.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Fresno
Median Home Value
$129k less
$321,800 vs $450,500
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.4°F
Sacramento
Median Income
$15,953
$78,954 vs $63,001/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 10 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 Fresno to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.