Cost of Living in Sacramento County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Sacramento County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Sacramento County ranks #3,039 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 3%)
Sourced county brief
Sacramento County Median Rent Burden Reaches 33.1 Percent of Income
In Sacramento County, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was estimated at 33.1% for the 2020-2024 period. This figure differs from the California unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 31.7% by 1.4 percentage points. The median gross rent in the county was $1,790 per month, which is $99 above the California unweighted county mean of $1,691. For residents owning their homes, the median selected monthly owner costs were $1,906, compared to an unweighted state county mean of $1,881. The median home value was $534,200, which is below the unweighted state county mean of $604,112. Renter households had a median income of $63,224. This snapshot utilizes ACS 5-year estimates to report official data points across housing tenures without projecting future market shifts or providing financial advice. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Sacramento County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.1% of renter household income in Sacramento County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,790 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,906. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $71,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Sacramento County's $1,790 median is 5.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Sacramento County
Rent Burden
23.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,151
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.8%
of gross income
The median home in Sacramento County may be a stretch
Median home value is $534,200. Estimated monthly cost: $4,265 vs. your max of $2,151.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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