Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($450,500 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,945)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $37,114/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $37,114 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Violent Crime
3% lower
754.9 vs 775.1 per 100k
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$429k less
$450,500 vs $879,900
Sacramento
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$37,114
$116,068 vs $78,954/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories. Sacramento wins 14 and Seattle wins 9. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $879,900 median home), income ($78,954 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Seattle, WA are about 627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.