New York-Newark-Jersey City receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
New York-Newark-Jersey City
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Opportunity
69 · Top 24%
vs56 · Top 48%
Growth
53 · Top 44%
vs65 · Top 27%
Climate
73 · Top 28%
vs81 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
66 · Top 36%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 7%
vs61 · Bottom 7%
Access
99 · Top 4%
vs91 · Top 21%
Economic stability
71 · Top 24%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | New York-Newark-Jersey City | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,798,537 | 2,426,388 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $99,155 | $97,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $55,691 | $47,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,225/sq mi | 476/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $614,200 | $589,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,830 | $1,819 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.5% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.2% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 11.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 57,011 | 10,666 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 4.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 19.8% | 1.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.3" | 19.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.4 min | 28.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.5 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
New York-Newark-Jersey City
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
New York-Newark-Jersey City
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
69
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Metro Area · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology