City comparison
No. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Sacramento split most clearly. Sacramento scores 90 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Sacramento is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Sacramento is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Sacramento has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Sacramento are 887 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $52 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $7,397 (8%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 181 in Sacramento, down 90 points (33%).
The move
Sacramento and Denver are 887 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $52 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $94,718 in Denver, up $7,397 (8%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 271 in Denver, up 90 points (50%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 3% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $1,831 in Denver, so Sacramento is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $52, or $624 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Denver's median income is 8% higher than Sacramento
Denver
Winner$94,718
Sacramento
$87,321
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Denver (about $7,397 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
33% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 33% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Sacramento. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Sacramento is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Sacramento
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Denver if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Sacramento if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Sacramento is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Denver (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
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 42/100 in Sacramento). That 12-point spread matters more than the $52 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Sacramento rent at $1,779/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Denver and 71°F in Sacramento.
Sacramento clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Denver deserves a serious look only when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Sacramento, plus other cities in CO and CA.
