Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Norman leads 13 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($224,900 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,592)
66% less violent crime than Sacramento
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $16,105/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,105 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
66% lower
260.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$226k less
$224,900 vs $450,500
Norman
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$16,105
$78,954 vs $62,849/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Norman is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 13 of 23 categories. Norman 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 Norman to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $450,500 median home), income ($62,849 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Sacramento, CA are about 1,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.