Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $12,305 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Longer commutes — 29.5 min average each way
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($450,500 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,860)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $12,305/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$12,305
$91,259 vs $78,954/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
50% lower
374.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$143k less
$450,500 vs $593,100
Sacramento
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $450,500 median home), income ($91,259 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.