9 Pros & Cons of Living in Sacramento – Dollarsanity

In light of recent events, Sacramento has become an eye candy for everyone.

Props to the Oscar-nominated film written about the town by Greta Gerwig, more and more people fall in love with Sacramento. 

With recent developments and improvements in amenities, Sacramento is shaking off its preconceived notions and is well on its way to becoming a prosperous city. 

But is Sacramento a good place to live? 

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of living in Sacramento so you know what to expect from life in the city. 

So, let us begin!

SEE: 10 Pros & Cons of Living in Long Beach, CA

Pros of Living in Sacramento

Quality Education

Education in Sacramento is top-notch, and the locals benefit from many prestigious institutes in the city. 

Let’s talk about one of the most renowned universities nationwide, California State University. With its roots dating back to 1947, the university is constantly ranked as the country’s top university.

This university has catered education to the people that have climbed farther on the fame ladder, including Tom Hanks and Lester Holt. With more than 29K students and its large area, the university offers sixty undergraduate and forty graduate programs. 

There are also many other competent schools for pursuing education in the city. Sacramento also has good schools to shape and nurture the tiny minds of children! 

If your family has young children, moving to Sacramento will be great. 

According to Yelp, the best Sacramento Education Institutes include: 

• California State University 
• University of San Francisco
• University of California

Breezy Winters

The winter in Sacramento is the time to see Sacramento at its peak beauty. Winters make the city look more beautiful, and the weather feels desirable too! 

Even in hot temperatures, it is rare to snow in Sacramento. The snowfall factor makes it so that the winter weather is mild and manageable for the people. 

Living in Sacramento, you will gain exposure to all distinct seasons. Whereas moving to places like Los Angeles or other states gives you constant weather, the weather in Sacramento constantly changes with the season. 

So, be ready to see the orange leaves of autumn come down and the flowers blossoming in spring! 

Beautiful Scenery

Sacramento is overfilled with beauty due to its connection with the mountains and the attractions within the city. 

As you move to Sacramento, look far east every morning to see an astonishingly colorful sunrise! The views of the sun rising over the Sierra mountain range are breathtaking! 

The closer you get to the mountains, the better the view gets. And this beauty comes at a cost. Properties in areas closer to the mountain, including Foslom or Granite Bay, go for a higher value and look desirable. 

In short, moving to Sacramento will allow you to see the mesmerizing views of the Sierra Mountain Range and Lake Tahoe Basin. Apart from sightseeing, you will find plenty of outdoor activities in the town.

The Hip Lifestyle of the Sacramento Population

Travel & Leisure recently marked Sacramento with other cities, including San Francisco, on the list of the country’s coolest cities. 

Moving to Sacramento, you will find the locals here courteous, friendly, and helpful. The friendly faces in the town make it easy for you to get used to the city’s life quickly and to find joy in living here. 

Expect the strangers holding the door for you and passing smiles at you randomly as you course through the city’s streets. Conclusively, the locals are friendly, and you can ask them for help anytime. 

Ideal Location

The city’s location makes it ideal for planning to amaze getaways and reaching other towns more quickly. Living in Sacramento, San Francisco, will always remain within your hand’s reach. 

If you want to plan outdoor activities, the city’s location makes it easy to get to Napa Valley, allowing you to experience dreamy views and a fun leisure time outdoors. These are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Sacramento remains home to many Californian getaways and gives you easy access to various activities, including skiing or canoeing during the summer days. 

Related: 10 Pros And Cons Of Living In Oakland

Cons of Living in Sacramento

Crime

Listed as the second worst national city for human trafficking by the Human Rights Society, Sacramento suffers from a serious crime problem! 

Compared to the national Average, the crime rate in Sacramento is 53% elevated. The report of high crime rates in Sacramento is an alarming situation for the people considering moving there. 

If there is an upside to this situation, it’s that the violent crimes in this city are reported far below the national Average! 

Nevertheless, if you decide to live in Sacramento, you must always remain vigilant and choose a safe neighborhood. 

Increasing Homelessness

As the economic situation worsens, you will see more homeless people crowding the Sacramento streets. 

While Sacramento is not the only city crawling with the homeless, the rising homelessness in the city indicates the bad economic conditions of the city. 

Besides, the Sacramento people have not done a lot of outreach for its homeless community, resulting in a lack of shelters for people without homes. The increasing number of homeless also suggests that the city lacks adequate options. 

Taxes

Being a part of California, one of the biggest drawbacks of living in California is the high tax rates for its residents. 

As a Sacramento resident, you must pay an additional 12.3% state income tax. Apart from the state income taxes, you must also pay federal taxes! 

With how much the local government is taxing their residents, they could consider creating a more pleasant environment for the locals. Nevertheless, that remains a debate for another time.

Traffic

Like many California cities, Sacramento has its share of traffic congestion, especially during peak commuting hours.

While the city has public transportation options, including a light rail system, it may not serve all neighborhoods equally, making a car necessary for most of its residents.

Final Words

Considering the city’s amenities and features, it’s not hard to depict why the city is progressing so quickly. 

Ranked as the 25th most walkable city in the country, living in Sacramento gives you easy access to shops and nearby outdoor attractions, such as parks. Nevertheless, there are also some significant shortcomings of living in Sacramento, as there are shortcomings with every city. 

Before you move there, we suggest you thoroughly read this guide. Going through this guide will inform you about the city’s good and the bad and help you settle in quicker! 

We hope you found this information useful.