City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Sacramento and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 88 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on the job market and Tampa 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. Tampa has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Tampa are 2,352 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $78 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $75,475 in Tampa, down $11,846 (14%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 93 in Tampa, down 88 points (49%).
The move
Tampa and Sacramento are 2,352 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $78 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $11,846 (16%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 181 in Sacramento, up 88 points (95%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Tampa rent is 4% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Tampa is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $78, or $936 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Sacramento's median income is 16% higher than Tampa
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Sacramento (about $11,846 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 49% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 75°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
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Sacramento (93 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 Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 42/100 in Sacramento). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,779 in Sacramento; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Tampa rent at $1,701/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,701 in Tampa and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Between Sacramento and Tampa, Tampa is ahead on safety — 62/100 safety versus 42/100. Lean Sacramento instead when you already know the Sacramento block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Tampa, plus other cities in CA and FL.
