Moving to Sacramento, California: 7 Things You Want to Know

Sacramento at a Glance

Away from the crashing waves of the Pacific and the rugged, arid mountain trails, Sacramento is California’s sunny, laid-back capital of cool — a healthcare, education and business hub that also has some serious creative hustle.  

With its calming, green canopy, Sacramento is formally known as the City of Trees, and its agricultural wonders earned it the more recent moniker of Farm-to-Fork Capital. The city’s real BFFs just call it the SAC. Whatever you do, don’t call it The Mento. Please.  

The city was bankrolled in its early days as a Gold Rush town, a railroad hub and a trading post, but the city that was once the last stop on the Pony Express is now the sixth-largest city in California. Unlike most of its coastal counterparts, Sacramento’s population has continued to grow — even through the pandemic. The city now has more than 520,000 residents — a 13% gain since 2010 — and Sacramento County has more than 1.5 million. 

One of the appeals is the (relatively) affordable cost of living. Real estate prices in Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco have risen to eye-popping levels, so Sacramento home values feel comparably within reach to mere mortals.  

But the real appeal is all the treasures this culturally rich city offers. From the Crocker Art Museum to the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum and the Aerospace Museum of California, there are institutions for every interest in the state capital. How many cities have a Pharmacy Museum or a Museum of Medical History? It’s hard to know how good modern life is until you survey a collection of 19th-century medical treatments. Arsenic, anyone?  

There also aren’t many cities with such tremendous access to the outdoors. Explore the confluence of the riverways in Discovery Park or stroll through the WPA gardens in Land Park. If you’re dying to get away, you’ll only need your car and two hours of podcasts to reach the shores of Lake Tahoe or the vineyards of Napa Valley. Not to mention the spoils of the nearby national parks. It’s no surprise that Forbes named Sacramento the best city to live in in California.  

If you’re looking for a cosmopolitan city in the Golden State’s Central Valley, put Sacramento, California, on your list. Learn more about the city below in our moving guide to Sacramento, where we’ll discuss everything from the city’s weather to the job market and fun places to spend time with your family.  

Moving to and Living in Sacramento

Embracing the Weather — And the Summer Heat

Unlike its coastal counterpart, Sacramento’s warm, sunny climate is a world away from the chilly winds of San Francisco. Summertime highs in the capital are often above 100°F, but the nighttime air usually drops precipitously — you might even need a sweater after dark. In the winter, you’re unlikely to see frost or snow in the SAC, but temperatures do drop into the 30s °F, so you’ll still want plenty of warm gear.  

Like other Central Valley cities, Sacramento has a fairly arid climate and typically receives only 16” of rain a year. But over the last decade, with drought, bomb cyclones and atmospheric rivers rearing their ugly heads, the amount of precipitation has fluctuated wildly.  

Some years saw only a third of the normal accumulations, while others exceeded expected totals by more than 50%. And, because Sacramento receives most of its rain during the short window of “wintry” weather between November and March, Sacramento can suddenly be inundated with monsoon-like conditions. In fact, there is no large city in the country more prone to extreme flooding events than Sacramento.  

In 1986, a so-called “Pineapple Express” deposited nearly an inch a day of rain for 11 days. And, in 2017, nearly 10 inches of rain overwhelmed the capital in January alone. In addition to its atmospheric predispositions, the American and Sacramento Rivers, along with the city’s numerous creeks, can quickly swell beyond their banks.   

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sacramento is not immune to extreme heat and fire — 2024 saw the city’s hottest summer on record. FEMA assesses the capital as having a “relatively moderate” risk of wildfire —  better than many nearby areas — but it has a “relatively high” risk for heat and earthquakes. And despite its propensity for deluge, it’s at a “very high” risk for drought.  

Before you move to Sacramento, learn about ways to protect your home from wildfires.  

Cheaper Housing, High Expenditure 

If everything is relative, the cost of living in Sacramento will feel downright cheap … compared to prices in coastal California, at least. While the median home value in Sacramento is $450,500 (U.S. Census) — nearly twice the national average — San Diego will cost you $330K more, while Los Angeles adds $370K to that price tag, and San Francisco and San Jose will nearly triple the cost of a home in the SAC. The National Association of Realtors puts current values even higher — home prices in Sacramento County averaged $585,720 in the first three months of 2024. 

Renters can expect to pay an average of $1,592/month in Sacramento, but that’s a saving of hundreds, if not thousands, over CA’s other popular cities. But the southern Central Valley has Sacramento’s prices beat. However, Fresno and Bakersfield don’t have SAC’s cultural amenities, so it’s not an even trade.  

Real estate is just one of the factors in the Western region that inflates the cost of living for residents. The Greater Sacramento Economic Council estimates that county residents spend an average of $15,000 on transportation, $12,000 on food and beverages, $7,000 on healthcare and $6,000 on utilities. All told, the $85,000 that households spend on average each year on essentials exceeds residents’ median household income, which currently sits at only $78,954 in the city and $84,010 in Sacramento County. 

Don’t forget California state personal income taxes are relatively high, so even if your salary at your new job is the same as your old one, your take-home pay might be less than it was in another city.   

A Hot Market for Education and Health Services

Sacramento County has a diverse job market with several robust industry sectors. As the capital of the state of California, it’s no surprise the government supplies many of the jobs in the Sacramento region. As of September 2024, the government supplied 262,000 jobs, making it the number one employer in the metro area and one that grew by 2.7% over the past year. With 207,300 jobs, education and health services is the second-largest industry in Sacramento, and it grew a remarkable 8.5% over the past 12 months. Trade, transportation and utilities employ 168,200 individuals, professional and business services support 136,300 employees, and leisure and hospitality also have a strong showing, with 111,000 jobs.  

Overall, the nonfarm civilian workforce in Sacramento gained 2% between September of 2023 and 2024, keeping the unemployment rate in Sacramento County just below 5% — that’s better than the California state average but a point above the national one. However, information workers had a rotten year, as they did in many cities. This sector dumped more than 10% of jobs in the area, but this amounted to minimal losses in the region, with fewer than 10,000 tech workers in total.   

If you’re wondering where your career move might take you in the capital, consider these key employers in Sacramento. Leaning on its academic and healthcare prowess, many SAC residents work at places like the UC Davis Medical Center, Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, California State University Sacramento and Sacramento State, one of the best and most diverse public schools in the West. With the Beale Air Force Base in the area, aerospace and aviation companies like Aerojet Rocketdyne are an important part of the capital’s economy, as are Intel and Apple. But even in this business-centric environment, one of the biggest companies in the region is still humanities-focused — the Sacramento Bee. This critical daily rag will soon celebrate its 170th birthday.  

Nature at Your Fingertip

Not every state capital can boast such an impressive array of outdoor adventure, but residing in the northern half of California’s Central Valley has plenty of upsides — even if it occupies a very flat region.  

William Land Regional Park is the city’s largest urban green space. Whether you’re a golfer, a gardener or an energetic kindergartner, you’ll find something to love in this vast space south of Midtown. The WPA Rock Garden is the park’s best-kept secret, but we’ll give you the scoop on the kid-friendly attractions in Land Park in the section below.  

Within Sacramento County, the American River and Sacramento River converge north of downtown, with the confluence located at Discovery Park. Bring your bicycles to explore the 32-mile-long American River Parkway and treat yourself to a riverside picnic after your ride. Fishing and boating are also permitted here, and there’s even an archery range for all the Katnisses in the capital. In October, SAC residents look forward to the Aftershock and Golden Sky Festivals in the park.  

Rafting is very popular on the American River. There are swoony, riffly (shallow and fast-flowing for those not in the know) sections for beginners to zone out in, rowdy Class II/III areas, like the colorfully named “Satan’s Cesspool” to get your blood pumping, and Class IV heart-thumpers on the North Fork, like Bogus Thunder Rapids and the eight-foot drop at Chamberlain Falls. 

For even higher-octane action, try your hand — and test your luck — at wakeboarding, windsurfing or the thrilling art of kiteboarding, which always earns major bragging points in our book. Our book, btw, stays safely back on shore because you must be alive to write these moving guides.  

When you want to escape the valley for the weekend, you have your choice of choice locations, many within two hours of the city. Head west to hike through the mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean. At Point Reyes National Seashore, you can also go whale-watching, elephant seal-spying and horseback riding on the beach. If you head east through the Eldorado National Forest, you’ll find yourself spoiled by the shores of Lake Tahoe. Take a dip in the icy blue waters in the summertime or practice your snowboarding in the winter months. With a laid-back resort-like atmosphere, Tahoe is one of the state’s top destinations to unwind in. 

You’ll really be roughing it, though, if you point your headlights toward Santa Rosa, where the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma offer the weary a wine-soaked respite from the workweek.  

Yosemite National Park is just three hours away if scaling El Capitan is on your bucket list, and Death Valley is a mere six to seven hours by car. This hot, dry wonder is especially wonderful in the early spring.  

Family-Oriented Environment 

Sacramento may be a hub of commerce, research and politics, but it’s also got a family-friendly side. If you have kiddos to keep happy, fear not — this city has plenty of attractions that they, and you, will enjoy.  

Land Park is both a popular, in-town neighborhood and the namesake greenspace containing the WPA Rock Garden, a great urban golf course and three of the top destinations for the young and young at heart: the Sacramento Zoo, Funderland Amusement Park and Fairytale Town.  

Funderland is a classic carnival at its very best — you’ll find no terrifying, G-force-pounding coasters at this park. The Flying Dragon and the Wild Stagecoach are about as wild as it gets here, so even young kids will be able to enjoy nearly every ride.  

Fairytale Town is one of the most imaginative places to play in the state of California, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to get in. You can climb into the literal leg (or foot, at least) of the surly giant from Jack & the Beanstalk or wind your way down the twisty slide at Farmer Brown’s Barn. While you’re there, you can also meet Dory, a miniature pony and Charlotte, a tarantula, who may not be as into promoting the resident pigs through web-based calligraphy as her name would suggest.  

If you’re looking for a neighborhood farther outside the city center to live in, North Sacramento is a welcoming suburban district with several appealing neighborhoods within it, including Glenwood Meadows, Sundance Lake, Westlake and Natomas. These districts offer all the shopping and dining conveniences you expect along with easy access to the airport, golf courses and parks. There is a waterskiing school nearby, in case you want to polish up your aquatic skills before your next trip to Tahoe, and the Aerospace Museum of California and the Scandia Fun Center are just off I-80 to the east. 

A Hub of Fresh Food and Local Flavors

With its (mostly) ideal climate and its agricultural riches, the capital city of California is also the nation’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. And, of course, what self-respecting city would let the opportunity to recognize such an honor pass them by? Not Sacramento.  

Residents and visitors can enjoy the hyperlocal bounty of this northern metropolis at the annual Farm-to-Fork Festival, which combines a lively street fair, music performances and, of course, eating! Sample the finest bakes, brews and bruschetta from the culinary masters at Vacanza Romana, Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine, the Camden Spit & Larder and many mouthwatering others. Be sure to check out their standalone locations in town once the festival lights go down.  

A Growing Base for Sports Fans and Athletes

While Sacramento still isn’t an NFL town, that doesn’t mean that the sports scene disappoints. The capital has three pro teams so far — two minor-leaguers and one major — who keep the city’s fan base happy. The NBA’s Sacramento Kings heat up the court at the Golden 1 Center — a LEED-Platinum arena downtown, where you can also see concerts and other performances.  

Soccer fans can root for the “indomitable” Sacramento Republic FC, a USL team that’s about to get a shiny, new stomping ground — the Republic Stadium. Fun fact: this is the first professional men’s sports team to have a Tribal Nation as a majority owner. Wilton Rancheria sealed the deal in the fall of 2024.   

But let’s not forget America’s favorite pastime — baseball. The MiLB Sacramento River Cats — a feeder team for the SF Giants — finished out the 2024 season in the middle of the pack but have their sights on big things in 2025. You can find them at Sutter Heath Park in West Sacramento. 

Moving to Sacramento Soon? Let Mayflower® Get You There

If you’re ready to make the move to Sacramento, let Mayflower handle all the details. Our professional movers have helped families like yours relocate to cities across the U.S. for nearly 100 years. It’s just one of the reasons why we are the nation’s most trusted mover.  

Get a moving quote now for Sacramento, California. 

Moving long-distance to Sacramento? If your family is making a cross-country move to Sacramento, Mayflower’s full-service moving packages can take the pressure off of you to do the work. By partnering with our nationwide network of long-distance movers, who are licensed for interstate moves, you can focus on settling into your new home. If you’re not sure what services you might require, review the options in our customizable moving packages. Mayflower can provide you with moving services like packing and unpacking, storage, car shipping and debris removal.   

Moving within the city of Sacramento or the state of California? Trust our interstate Sacramento agents/movers to help you with local moves in Sacramento. 

Even if you’re taking the DIY route, our team of experts can help you pack like the pros. Follow our moving checklist and planner to set a week-by-week schedule. Discover the steps you can take to help your family settle in after your move. And, no matter how you choose to move to Sacramento, prepare yourself for every detail of your relocation with our digital moving guide, Welcome HOME magazine. 

If you’re still on the fence about which city you want to live in, use Mayflower’s state guides and city guides to discover the best cities to move to in the U.S.  

Get a quote on moving to Sacramento.  

Before you move, we encourage you to thoroughly research neighborhoods in Sacramento to see which location has the right amenities and resources for your family. Consider the area’s commute time, tax rates, cost of living, safety statistics, schools and any other factors that may be relevant to your needs.