Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 42%
vs56 · Top 48%
Growth
48 · Bottom 48%
vs65 · Top 27%
Climate
78 · Top 10%
vs81 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
57 · Top 49%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 9%
vs61 · Bottom 7%
Access
90 · Top 24%
vs91 · Top 21%
Economic stability
90 · Top 4%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,520,987 | 2,426,388 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,436 | $97,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,936 | $47,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 377/sq mi | 476/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $559,400 | $589,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,724 | $1,819 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.7% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 11.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9,139 | 10,666 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.6 | 4.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.3% | 1.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.7" | 19.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 28.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 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
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
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.
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
69
Your Score
62
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: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metro Area · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology