City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Sacramento and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 38 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,779 in Sacramento and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on cost of living and Anaheim 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. Sacramento at $1,779 average has pockets that run $1,579 and others at $2,179: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Sacramento and Anaheim are 384 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $396 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $7,906 (9%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 143 in Anaheim, down 38 points (21%).
The move
Anaheim and Sacramento are 384 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $396 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $7,906 (8%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 181 in Sacramento, up 38 points (27%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 18% cheaper than Anaheim
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Sacramento is 18% 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 $4,752, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Sacramento still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Anaheim's median income is 9% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento
$87,321
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Anaheim (about $7,906 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
21% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 21% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Anaheim. 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, Anaheim is the easier city. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Sacramento and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Anaheim averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 72°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 Sacramento
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Sacramento (143 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Anaheim leads on safety (49/100 vs 42/100 in Sacramento). Typical rent is $2,175 in Anaheim and $1,779 in Sacramento; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $87,321), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $87,321 in Sacramento.
Anaheim is ahead on safety (49/100 vs 42/100); Sacramento is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,779/month rent plus $87,321 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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