Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Households earn $5,328 more per year on average
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
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Homes cost $47k less ($403,400 vs $450,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Sacramento by $5,328/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Median Income
$5,328
$78,954 vs $73,626/yr
Sacramento
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Violent Crime
23% lower
582.3 vs 754.9 per 100k
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$47k less
$403,400 vs $450,500
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ 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 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories. Sacramento wins 10 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $403,400 median home), income ($78,954 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.