Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1230k less ($450,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1398/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,990)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $95,552/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,552 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Sacramento
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sacramento
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$1230k less
$450,500 vs $1,680,700
Sacramento
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$95,552
$174,506 vs $78,954/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
68% lower
244.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 9 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($78,954 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 87 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.