City comparison
No. Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 131 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mesa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,620 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Sacramento and Mesa split most clearly. Mesa scores 73 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 $1,620 in Mesa.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on the job market and Mesa 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 crime gap is citywide. Mesa has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Mesa are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,620 a month in Mesa, down $159 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $82,752 in Mesa, down $4,569 (5%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 108 in Mesa, down 73 points (40%).
The move
Mesa and Sacramento are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $159 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $4,569 (6%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 181 in Sacramento, up 73 points (68%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Mesa, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Mesa rent is 9% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Mesa
Winner$1,620/mo
Typical rent runs $1,620 a month in Mesa versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Mesa is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $159, or $1,908 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 Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Sacramento's median income is 6% higher than Mesa
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Mesa
$82,752
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $82,752 in Mesa, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Sacramento (about $4,569 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
40% lower crime
Mesa's crime index is 40% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Mesa
Winner108 (100 = avg)
Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% lower in Mesa. 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, Mesa 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 Mesa are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mesa
79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mesa sits near 79°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 6% 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
Mesa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,620 a month. Choose Mesa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mesa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 40% lower than Sacramento (108 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 Mesa leads on safety (58/100 vs 42/100 in Sacramento). Typical rent is $1,620 in Mesa and $1,779 in Sacramento; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $159 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $82,752 in Mesa.
Mesa is ahead on safety (58/100 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Mesa, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
