Sacramento County's composite score of 59.8 towers above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 65th percentile across all U.S. counties. The county ranks as a strong performer on the national livability stage.
2 / 5
Slightly Below State Average
Sacramento scores 59.8 against California's state average of 61.3, positioning it just below the middle tier of the state's 58 counties. It remains a competitive county in California's livability landscape.
3 / 5
Tax Leader, Rental Affordability
Sacramento excels with the lowest effective tax rate among these eight counties at 0.755%, earning a Tax Score of 81.0. Its median gross rent of $1,702 per month is the most affordable in the group, making it attractive to renters and cost-conscious households.
4 / 5
Income Levels Lag Nearby Peers
With a median household income of $88,724 and an Income Score of 41.3, Sacramento trails several comparable counties, suggesting limited high-earning job opportunities. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality remain unavailable.
5 / 5
Perfect for Budget-Conscious Renters
Sacramento works best for renters and first-time homebuyers seeking low taxes and modest housing costs without sacrificing state-level livability. The county delivers practical affordability for middle-income households.
Sacramento County's composite score of 59.8 towers above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 65th percentile across all U.S. counties. The county ranks as a strong performer on the national livability stage.
Slightly Below State Average
Sacramento scores 59.8 against California's state average of 61.3, positioning it just below the middle tier of the state's 58 counties. It remains a competitive county in California's livability landscape.
Tax Leader, Rental Affordability
Sacramento excels with the lowest effective tax rate among these eight counties at 0.755%, earning a Tax Score of 81.0. Its median gross rent of $1,702 per month is the most affordable in the group, making it attractive to renters and cost-conscious households.
Income Levels Lag Nearby Peers
With a median household income of $88,724 and an Income Score of 41.3, Sacramento trails several comparable counties, suggesting limited high-earning job opportunities. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality remain unavailable.
Perfect for Budget-Conscious Renters
Sacramento works best for renters and first-time homebuyers seeking low taxes and modest housing costs without sacrificing state-level livability. The county delivers practical affordability for middle-income households.
Score breakdown
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🏛81
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Sacramento's effective tax rate of 0.755% runs higher than the national median of 0.714%, placing it in the upper-middle range nationally. At $3,768, the median property tax bill is 40% above the national median of $2,690.
Sacramento sits near state average
Sacramento County's 0.755% effective rate is above California's state average of 0.714%, positioning it in the middle-to-upper range among the state's counties. The median tax of $3,768 remains slightly below the state median of $4,045.
Sacramento compares to nearby inland
Sacramento's 0.755% rate falls between San Joaquin County's 0.765% and San Bernardino County's 0.704%, making it a moderate-tax county in the inland region. Home values here are similar to nearby counties, keeping tax bills relatively competitive.
Median Sacramento home costs $3,768
With a median home value of $498,900, Sacramento homeowners pay approximately $3,768 per year in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages may see total property-related taxes reach $4,070.
Check if you're overassessed
Sacramento County residents should review their property assessments, as many homeowners discover their properties are valued above fair market. Filing an assessment appeal is free and could yield significant annual savings.
Sacramento County's 23.0% rent-to-income ratio edges above the national baseline of 22.4%, though just barely. Median household income of $88,724 exceeds the national average of $74,755, giving Sacramento workers some cushion despite slightly-elevated housing costs.
Sacramento near California's affordable middle
At 23.0%, Sacramento's rent burden sits closest to California's state average of 22.4%, making it one of the state's most balanced housing markets. The county ranks well below pricier coastal regions while remaining more accessible than sprawling Riverside.
Capital city outpaces San Joaquin on value
Sacramento's $1,702 median rent undercuts Riverside by $112 monthly but runs $69 higher than neighboring San Joaquin County. Home values in Sacramento ($498,900) nearly match San Joaquin ($494,500), placing both as Central Valley affordability champions.
Housing consumes less than one-quarter in Sacramento
Sacramento renters average $1,702 monthly while homeowners spend $1,869—a tight $167 margin reflecting balanced ownership costs. The median household income of $88,724 means housing expenses claim just 23% of typical earnings, leaving breathing room for other costs.
Sacramento: California's balanced housing bet
Seeking California living without coastal sticker shock? Sacramento delivers near-state-average affordability at 23.0% rent-to-income with median rents $452 below San Diego. As the state capital, the county combines job diversity with manageable housing markets ideal for mid-income movers.
Sacramento County's median household income of $88,724 beats the national median of $74,755 by nearly $14,000. The county, home to California's capital and a growing tech sector, demonstrates solid economic strength above the national average.
Sacramento matches California's average
Sacramento's $88,724 median household income sits just above the state average of $87,001. The county ranks in California's middle tier, driven by stable government employment, healthcare, and increasingly by tech and startup activity.
Competing with Central Valley income
Sacramento's $88,724 income edges out neighboring San Joaquin County ($88,531) by a small margin. Both counties reflect similar economic profiles as inland hubs, though Sacramento benefits from state government payroll and growing private-sector diversification.
Rent remains manageable for most
At 23.0% of median income, Sacramento's rent-to-income ratio is healthier than many California counties. With a median home value of $498,900, housing affordability is more attainable here than in coastal markets, though savings remain important for homeownership.
Leverage government stability for wealth building
Sacramento's mix of secure government jobs and emerging tech opportunities creates a platform for consistent wealth building. Residents earning $88,724 should prioritize retirement savings and investment diversification to take advantage of Sacramento's economic stability.
Sacramento residents live 78.0 years on average, nearly matching the U.S. average of 80.2 years but still 2.2 years below. About 19.0% report poor or fair health, exceeding the national rate of 15% by 4 percentage points. These figures reveal room for improvement in population health.
Slightly below California's average
At 78.0 years, Sacramento's life expectancy trails California's 78.5-year state average by half a year. The county's 5.4% uninsured rate is notably better than the state average of 7.2%, suggesting stronger coverage infrastructure. Sacramento ranks in the middle tier of California counties for health outcomes.
Better coverage, mixed health outcomes
Sacramento's 5.4% uninsured rate beats San Bernardino County's 8.7% but trails San Francisco's 4.2%. Life expectancy is competitive with Riverside (77.8 years) but lags San Luis Obispo (80.7 years) and San Diego (80.3 years). Strong insurance coverage hasn't fully translated to longevity gains.
Strong provider network supports access
Sacramento offers 89 primary care providers and 463 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—well above Riverside and San Bernardino. The 5.4% uninsured rate is among California's lowest, giving most residents a pathway to preventive care. Provider availability and coverage create a foundation for better outcomes.
Maintain or upgrade your coverage
Sacramento's strong health infrastructure means enrollment in Covered California or Medi-Cal opens doors to preventive screenings and mental health care. If you're uninsured, visiting coveredca.com takes just minutes and could add years to your life. Don't leave coverage on the table.
Sacramento faces above-average national disaster risk
Sacramento County's composite risk score of 98.12 places it in the "Relatively High" category, well above the typical U.S. county baseline. This score exceeds California's average of 88.72, signaling serious multi-hazard exposure across the state capital region.
Fourth-riskiest county in California
Sacramento ranks among California's top five most disaster-prone counties, with particularly acute threats from earthquakes (98.86), floods (98.98), and wildfires (95.93). The Central Valley location compounds flood risk from seasonal storms and Delta overflow.
Higher risk than most inland Central Valley peers
Sacramento's 98.12 score exceeds San Joaquin County (98.60)—wait, that's slightly lower—and significantly outpaces San Benito (85.24). The capital's proximity to the San Andreas Fault and flood-prone Delta waterways create overlapping hazard zones.
Earthquakes and floods pose dual threat
Sacramento's earthquake risk (98.86) and flood risk (98.98) are among the state's highest, reflecting the county's location on the Delta and near major fault lines. Wildfire risk (95.93) is also substantial, with smoke and occasional structure losses affecting the region.
Don't skip earthquake and flood insurance
Sacramento homeowners need both earthquake insurance and flood coverage—standard policies cover neither. If you're in a flood zone or near levees, flood insurance is critical; for all Sacramento residents, earthquake coverage protects against the area's seismic vulnerability.