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
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Opportunity
56 · Top 48%
vs52 · Bottom 43%
Growth
60 · Top 35%
vs64 · Top 26%
Climate
81 · Top 6%
vs74 · Top 26%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 45%
vs40 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 9%
vs64 · Bottom 11%
Access
91 · Top 34%
vs87 · Top 45%
Economic stability
72 · Top 31%
vs94 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,426,388 | 4,061,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,188 | $115,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $47,193 | $63,994 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 476/sq mi | 692/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $589,500 | $717,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,819 | $2,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.0% | 60.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 47.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 8.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 10,666 | 20,957 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 5.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.7% | 37.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 19.2" | 34.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 23 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 31.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.5 | 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
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, drought.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
68
Your Score
65
Area Score
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
68
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metro Area · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology