Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Tacoma, 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 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
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
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Homes cost $35k less ($415,300 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,592)
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Violent Crime
29% lower
754.9 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Sacramento
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$35k less
$415,300 vs $450,500
Tacoma
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tacoma'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 Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $415,300 median home), income ($78,954 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 602 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.