City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Sacramento and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 39 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 $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh costs less and Sacramento pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Raleigh are 2,346 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $207 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $1,926 (2%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 142 in Raleigh, down 39 points (22%).
The move
Raleigh and Sacramento are 2,346 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $207 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $1,926 (2%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 181 in Sacramento, up 39 points (27%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 12% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Raleigh is 12% 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 $2,484, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Sacramento's median income is 2% higher than Raleigh
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Sacramento (about $1,926 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
22% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 22% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
16% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Sacramento
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Sacramento scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Sacramento (142 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 Raleigh leads on safety (49/100 vs 42/100 in Sacramento). Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,779 in Sacramento; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Sacramento still pays more locally ($87,321 median income vs $85,395), which can offset the lease if your field pays Sacramento rates.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Sacramento and 60°F in Raleigh.
Raleigh 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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