The Sacramento metro area: El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties · Population 2,426,388 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Sacramento area
Household size in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.76 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.82 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.83 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in the Sacramento area holds 2.83 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is smaller than in California overall, where it has 3.01 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.76, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.6, the median age in the Sacramento area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.7, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in the Sacramento area as they are nationally: 11.0%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in California overall (12.3%). The single-parent share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Sacramento area
Renters in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in the Sacramento area is about as common as it is nationally: 37.0% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in California overall (44.1%). Among owners, 31.8% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Sacramento area: 6.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The Sacramento area has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in the Sacramento area are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,199 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,254 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,488 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,018 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$818 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Sacramento area pays $2,018 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in California overall ($2,229). Rent has climbed $818 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.8% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Sacramento area
Bachelor's degrees in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.4% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in the Sacramento area (37.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.2 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Sacramento area is close to the national rate: 89.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Sacramento area
| Period | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in the Sacramento area: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Sacramento area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento area (all) | 2.83 | 39.6 | 11.0% | 37.0% | 6.7% | 1985 | $2,018 | 37.4% | 89.9% | 6.2% |
| Elk Grove | 3.30 | 39.4 | 10.4% | 27.5% | 4.0% | 2000 | $2,217 | 38.9% | 90.3% | 5.9% |
| Roseville | 2.78 | 41.0 | 8.4% | 31.0% | 4.3% | 1998 | $2,233 | 44.3% | 95.6% | 4.9% |
| Arden-Arcade | 2.46 | 39.8 | 11.3% | 54.2% | 6.4% | 1967 | $1,683 | 37.3% | 89.5% | 8.1% |
| Citrus Heights | 2.63 | 39.7 | 10.9% | 39.9% | 4.9% | 1977 | $1,907 | 24.6% | 91.1% | 7.1% |
| Rancho Cordova | 2.91 | 37.4 | 9.9% | 39.0% | 5.0% | 1986 | $2,130 | 34.6% | 89.8% | 6.6% |
| Folsom | 2.74 | 41.8 | 8.5% | 30.2% | 4.0% | 1996 | $2,583 | 58.2% | 94.6% | 5.3% |
| Rocklin | 2.88 | 39.5 | 7.4% | 31.1% | 5.6% | 1997 | $2,440 | 47.1% | 95.6% | 4.4% |
| Woodland | 2.97 | 36.7 | 13.1% | 40.4% | 5.5% | 1984 | $1,707 | 31.4% | 84.0% | 5.8% |
| North Highlands | 3.07 | 34.0 | 15.2% | 53.4% | 6.3% | 1973 | $1,717 | 15.7% | 82.9% | 6.3% |
| Carmichael | 2.49 | 41.4 | 12.7% | 46.1% | 7.3% | 1973 | $1,741 | 37.0% | 92.6% | 7.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Cleveland area · Kansas City area · Cincinnati area · Las Vegas area · Austin area · Pittsburgh area · San Antonio area · Charlotte area · Orlando area · St. Louis area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Sacramento area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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