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California city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Sacramento?

What it costs to live in Sacramento, and how it compares with other California cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

44

264th best value in California

How much you get for what you pay, versus other California cities.

Overall livability

31

358th overall in California

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Sacramento is home to about 518,605 people. A typical home runs $385,500 and a household earns around $71,100, a price-to-income ratio of 5.4. Among California's largest cities, it ranks 264th for value and 358th overall.

Sacramento at a glance

Median home price

$385,500

131st in CA of 406

Median rent

$1,434/mo

Median household income

$71,100

Home price to income

5.4x

Unemployment

6.9%

257th in CA of 406

School rating

6/10

286th in CA of 406

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CA of 406

Walk score

64/100

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‹ See all top California cities ranked  ยท  California state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within California only. Updated 2026.