Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 11 of 20 categories
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
3% less violent crime than Sacramento
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($450,500 vs $822,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,791)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Households earn $2,710 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
3% lower
728.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Income
$2,710
$78,954 vs $76,244/yr
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$372k less
$450,500 vs $822,600
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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 20 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 11 of 20 categories. Los Angeles wins 9 and Sacramento wins 11. 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 Los Angeles to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $450,500 median home), income ($76,244 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.