Los Angeles or Sacramento: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Sacramento wins on more indicators: 7 of 12 against 3.
- Money: Sacramento 1:3
- Climate and risks: Sacramento 2:4
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Los Angeles
Indicator
Sacramento
Money
Better: Sacramento (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$86,376
202416% higher
✗$74,552
202414% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$2,929
2026-09-3029% higher
✓$2,269
2026-09-3023% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$950,020
2026-09-3066% higher
✓$572,813
2026-09-3040% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗113.6 100 = US average
20246% higher
✓106.7 100 = US average
20246% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Sacramento (2 : 4)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗80 AQI
202445% higher
✓55 AQI
202431% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗134 days per year
2024283% higher
✓35 days per year
202474% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓56 days per year
2016-202555% lower
✗125 days per year
2016-2025123% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
450 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,050 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
863 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,070 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
26 days per year
2016-2025
47 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
394 mm per year
2016-2025
499 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
72 %
2021-2025
63 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗1 days per year
2021-2025
✓0 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
23 km
2006-2025
56 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✗0.45 per year
2006-2025350% higher
✓0.10 per year
2006-202578% lower
Strongest earthquake in the period
lower is better
✓5.4 magnitude
2006-202510% lower
✗6.0 magnitude
2006-202511% higher
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
12,927,614 people
2024
2,463,127 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Los Angeles, Sacramento.