Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
46% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $39k less ($411,700 vs $450,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $9,517/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,517 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
46% lower
410.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$39k less
$411,700 vs $450,500
Gresham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$9,517
$78,954 vs $69,437/yr
Sacramento
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham 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 Gresham to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($69,437 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Sacramento, CA are about 482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.