City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Sacramento and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 49 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 $1,470 in Arlington.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on the job market and Arlington wins on cost of living 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. Arlington at $1,470 average has pockets that run $1,270 and others at $1,870: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Sacramento and Arlington are 1,422 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $309 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $75,171 in Arlington, down $12,150 (14%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 132 in Arlington, down 49 points (27%).
The move
Arlington and Sacramento are 1,422 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $309 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $12,150 (16%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 181 in Sacramento, up 49 points (37%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Arlington rent is 17% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Arlington 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 $3,708, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Arlington 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 Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Sacramento's median income is 16% higher than Arlington
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Sacramento (about $12,150 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. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 27% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington 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 Arlington are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington sits near 67°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
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 16% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Sacramento (132 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
Sacramento carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 52/100 in Arlington). That 10-point spread matters more than the $309 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Sacramento still pays more locally ($87,321 median income vs $75,171), which can offset the lease if your field pays Sacramento rates.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $75,171 in Arlington.
If safety drives your move, Arlington is the stronger match (52/100 safety versus 42/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Sacramento, treat $1,779/month rent and $87,321 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Arlington, plus other cities in CA and TX.
