Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 14 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,729)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
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 San Tan Valley by $9,512/yr
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $147k less ($304,000 vs $450,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $9,512 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$9,512
$88,466 vs $78,954/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
69% lower
235.7 vs 754.9 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$147k less
$304,000 vs $450,500
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 8 and San Tan Valley 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 Sacramento to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($78,954 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 667 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.