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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 44%
vs56 · Top 48%
Growth
68 · Top 21%
vs65 · Top 27%
Climate
74 · Top 24%
vs81 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
40 · Bottom 29%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 8%
vs61 · Bottom 7%
Access
87 · Top 31%
vs91 · Top 21%
Economic stability
94 · Top 2%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,061,920 | 2,426,388 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,177 | $97,188 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $63,994 | $47,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 692/sq mi | 476/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $717,500 | $589,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,000 | $1,819 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.0% | 63.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 4.8% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -1.3% | July 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.2% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 11.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 20,957 | 10,666 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.2 | 4.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 37.0% | 1.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.7" | 19.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 28.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
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.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
68
Your Score
61
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: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology