City comparison
No. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
The income gap between Dallas and Sacramento is significant: $70,518 median household versus $87,321. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Dallas and $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Sacramento wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Sacramento are 1,437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $307 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $16,803 (24%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 181 in Sacramento, down 7 points (4%).
The move
Sacramento and Dallas are 1,437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $307 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $70,518 in Dallas, down $16,803 (19%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 188 in Dallas, up 7 points (4%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Dallas rent is 17% cheaper than Sacramento
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Dallas is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,684, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Sacramento's median income is 24% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Sacramento (about $16,803 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Sacramento is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 4% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
69°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Sacramento averages about 69°F (81°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Dallas (181 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Dallas undercuts Sacramento by $307/month ($1,472 vs $1,779). I would not pick Sacramento on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 41/100 in Dallas and 42/100 in Sacramento.
Between Dallas and Sacramento, Dallas is ahead on housing cost — $1,472/month rent against $1,779. Lean Sacramento instead when your $87,321 income offer in Sacramento outweighs saving $307/month in Dallas.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Sacramento, plus other cities in TX and CA.
