Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Sacramento
California
14
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.
New York, NY
Pros
11% less violent crime than Sacramento
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($450,500 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,714)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
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
New York
Violent Crime
11% lower
671.0 vs 754.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Income
$2,347
$78,954 vs $76,607/yr
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$282k less
$450,500 vs $732,100
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories. New York wins 9 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 New York to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $450,500 median home), income ($76,607 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Sacramento, CA are about 2,503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.