City comparison
Yes. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Sacramento and Toledo. Sacramento averages 71°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,779 versus $934.
Sacramento is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Sacramento is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Sacramento and Toledo are 1,999 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $934 a month in Toledo, down $845 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $62,224 in Toledo, down $25,097 (29%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 221 in Toledo, up 40 points (22%).
The move
Toledo and Sacramento are 1,999 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $845 a month (90%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $25,097 (40%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 181 in Sacramento, down 40 points (18%).
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Sacramento and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Toledo rent is 47% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Toledo is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $845/month back in your pocket ($10,140/year). Over five years that's $50,700 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Sacramento, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Sacramento's median income is 40% higher than Toledo
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Sacramento (about $25,097 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 18% lower than Toledo
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Sacramento
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Sacramento scores 64% 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 Toledo 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 40% 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.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Toledo (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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 47% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $934/month in Toledo versus $1,779 in Sacramento. Median income reads $62,224 in Toledo and $87,321 in Sacramento, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Toledo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Sacramento deserves a serious look only when your $87,321 income offer in Sacramento outweighs saving $845/month in Toledo.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Toledo, plus other cities in CA and OH.
