Thinking of moving to Sacramento
? California's fastest-growing major city has some of the most affordable housing in the state, the greatest farm-to-table food in the region, and superb weather—just be wary of the city's rising crime rates and long commute times before making the move. Sacramento is often overshadowed by other large California
cities, but there are dozens of reasons to love living in the state’s capital. Sacramento provides various activities and possibilities that you may enjoy for years to come, with a low cost of living, a vibrant employment market, access to some of NorCal's most beautiful parks and rivers, and an excellent food scene. Here to help you figure out if Sacramento is the right spot for you is Jerry
, the trustworthy super app
for car
and renters
insurance. We've put together our definitive guide to moving to Sacramento with everything you'll need to know before you leave, as well as some tips on how to make the transition as easy as possible. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What you need to know about Sacramento before you move
Sacramento is a 99.8-square-mile city located approximately an hour and a half northeast of San Francisco
, at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. The Sierra Nevada mountains and valley farms surround the city, and it has a population of slightly over 513,000 residents. Let's take a closer look at what you can expect when moving to Sacramento! 1. Housing certainly isn’t cheap—but it’s pretty good for California
If you're looking to relocate to California, Sacramento is among the most affordable cities in the state. The cost of living in the city is 16% lower than the state average and 33% lower than that of nearby San Francisco. This is due, in large part, to its lower housing costs than the rest of California.
The average cost of renting a studio apartment in Sacramento is $881, while the median home value is $327,300—drastically below the million-dollar listings of some other major California cities.
Based on adjusted salary, Sacramento is also one of the more affordable U.S. cities to live in. In other words, Sacramento is a great place to live if you want the California way of life without the very high costs.
Utilities are also below average at around $118 per month.
2. The job market is on the way up
Though the recession hit Sacramento hard in 2010, when the unemployment rate went up to 12.4%, it's not hard to find work in Sactown anymore. In fact, Sacramento is now one of the best places to look for a job
in the U.S. because it is one of the best metro areas for creating jobs and is expected to have a lot more jobs in the next ten years. Sacramento is the capital of California, so there are several government jobs there. Some other major companies that employ Sacramento residents include Sutter Health, Blue Diamond, and VSP Global.
3. Crime—particularly property theft—is on the rise
Most crimes in Sacramento increased significantly in 2021 compared to prior years. Property and auto theft are two of the most common crimes you may encounter if you relocate to Sacramento.
If you intend to bring a car to Sacramento, equip it with anti-theft devices
to keep it safe and secure. While Sacramento has some dangerous neighborhoods with high crime rates compared to other similar cities, it also has numerous safe and affordable areas to settle down safely.
4. It’s both kid and pup-friendly
The Sacramento area is a great place to raise a family and is an increasingly popular spot for young families to relocate to. There are plenty of outdoor activities, spacious parks, and family-friendly events to keep everyone entertained.
Families with young children will also be relieved to learn that Sacramento's education system is among the best.
Plus, Sacramento is super pet friendly! The city boasts a network of paved and dog-friendly pathways, largely along the Sacramento and American Rivers. Old Sacramento, the Capitol Mall, and even DOCO (Downtown Commons) are ideal for any pups!
5. You’ll probably need a car to get around
Without a car, getting around Sacramento is pretty difficult. Though the public transportation system (SacRT, or Regional Transit) is adequate, with a mix of light trains and buses, transit stops aren’t spaced evenly the further you get from downtown.
Biking can be a terrific alternative, but be cautious on the road—the city is now testing some of the bollards currently, and not all of them are the greatest at shielding bikers from oncoming traffic.
And unfortunately, on top of that, Sacramento’s average commute time is 25.9 minutes, one of the highest in California—so be prepared to spend some time sitting in traffic.
6. They have some fantastic weather
Sacramento's weather has a Mediterranean feel with year-round sun and occasional fog, gloom, and rain in the cooler months.
Summers are hot, dry, and typically clear, with temperatures reaching 94 degrees (and rarely above 102 on the hottest days). And, because of its location on the Sacramento and American rivers, the city receives a cold breeze at night, which works wonders on those hot, hot, hot days.
Winters are brief and crisp with sporadic rain. Temperatures can fall to 39 degrees but rarely fall below 31.
7. It really is the “City of Trees”
All Sacramento residents share one common belief that their city is one of the most tree-populated spots in the country—and they’re right to think so!
MIT conducted a study
that found Sacramento was only behind Vancouver and Singapore for cities with the most foliage, making it the highest-ranking city in America. An astounding 23.6% of Sacramento’s area is covered by tree canopy! Does Sacramento live up to its stereotypes?
Sacramento certainly lives up to expectations: residents are crazy for coffee and fro-yo, they’ve got blazing hot summers, and you’ll probably deal with some not-so-pleasant traffic conditions regularly.
There are a couple of other things to know about Sacramentans. It’s home to some of the best farm-to-table cuisine (with over 1.5 million acres of farmland in the surrounding area), and the Farm-to-Fork festival draws thousands of people in for delicious local delights. It also has a thriving art scene, with museums and art centers that are definitely worth checking out.
Finding a place to live in Sacramento
If you decide that relocating to Sacramento is actually what you want after going through the list above, you'll need to narrow your home search by looking at a few neighborhoods. In case you're unaware, these are some of Sacramento's most notable neighborhoods:
Most iconic neighborhoods: Midtown, Old Sacramento, Alkali Flat
Best neighborhoods for families with kids: Westlake, Village 7, Natomas Park
Best neighborhoods for foodies: Downtown, East Sacramento, Folsom
Best neighborhoods for low crime rates: College/Glen, Pocket, River Park
Most affordable neighborhoods: Tahoe Park, Meadowview, Citrus Heights
Moving to Sacramento checklist
After you've located your new place and paid your security deposit, go to the hardware store to load up on tape and boxes for your big move. Check out these tips for a much smoother moving experience.
Before you go
If you intend to bring an apartment's worth of goods, hire movers. If you prefer to handle things yourself, you can rent a U-Haul.
Inform your landlord, job, and insurance provider that you will be moving.
Ship your vehicle to Sacramento if the drive seems too difficult.
After you get there
Update your vehicle registration
and car insurance company to confirm your move to Sacramento. Before you move in, make sure to get renters insurance for your new place.
Change your postal address, health insurance information, and voter registration.
How to save on insurance in Sacramento
Rent in Sacramento is only going up, so it's critical to save money anywhere you can. And you may not realize it, but you may already be overpaying for your home
, renters
, or car insurance
. If you're looking for a new insurance company, look no further than Jerry
. Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture: Jerry is an app. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and can even help you cancel your old policy.
Jerry customers save an average of $800+ a year on car insurance payments!
“Jerry
handles everything from finding quotes to signing on new policies right in the app. No more filling out hundreds of forms! Thank you, Jerry, for helping my move to a new state feel hassle-free.” —Dolores T.
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