Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600
San Antonio
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,361 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 15% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($198,000 vs $450,500)
21% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,592)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sacramento by $19,361/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Median Income
$19,361
$78,954 vs $59,593/yr
San Antonio
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
21% lower
594.1 vs 754.9 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$253k less
$198,000 vs $450,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories. Sacramento wins 11 and San Antonio 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 Sacramento to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $198,000 median home), income ($78,954 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.