Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($450,500 vs $705,000)
18% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.3%)
Rent averages $225/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,817)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Washington by $22,768/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $22,768 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Violent Crime
18% lower
754.9 vs 925.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$255k less
$450,500 vs $705,000
Sacramento
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 89.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 108.9 on the COL index
Washington
Median Income
$22,768
$101,722 vs $78,954/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories. Sacramento wins 15 and Washington wins 8. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $705,000 median home), income ($78,954 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.