City comparison
Yes. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Sacramento and Stockton split most clearly. Sacramento scores 52 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 $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on the job market and safety and Stockton wins on cost of living. 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. Sacramento has rougher pockets and Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Stockton are 44 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $202 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $79,907 in Stockton, down $7,414 (8%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 233 in Stockton, up 52 points (29%).
The move
Stockton and Sacramento are 44 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $202 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $7,414 (9%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 181 in Sacramento, down 52 points (22%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Stockton rent is 11% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Stockton is 11% 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 $2,424, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Sacramento's median income is 9% higher than Stockton
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Sacramento (about $7,414 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
Sacramento's crime index is 22% lower than Stockton
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Stockton 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°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 9% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Sacramento 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 Stockton (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Stockton
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Sacramento leads on safety (42/100 vs 34/100 in Stockton). Typical rent is $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,577 in Stockton; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Sacramento still pays more locally ($87,321 median income vs $79,907), which can offset the lease if your field pays Sacramento rates.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $79,907 in Stockton.
Sacramento is ahead on safety (42/100 vs 34/100); Stockton is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,577/month rent plus $79,907 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 Stockton, plus other cities in CA.
