Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 16 of 21 categories
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Sacramento
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 94°F
Households earn $7,664 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($450,500 vs $624,800)
18% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
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
Median income trails Richmond by $7,664/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$7,664
$86,618 vs $78,954/yr
Sacramento
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Violent Crime
18% lower
754.9 vs 923.1 per 100k
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$174k less
$450,500 vs $624,800
Sacramento
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
23.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 16 of 21 categories. Richmond wins 5 and Sacramento wins 16. 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 Richmond to Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($86,618 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.