Population 1,594,006 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sacramento County
Household size in Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.84 | 2.81 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.86 | 2.82 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.89 | 2.83 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | +0.07 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Sacramento County average 2.89 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.79, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the west.
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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.8 | 36.7 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.3 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 39.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Sacramento County is 38.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.8 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southeast.
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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 12.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 12.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 11.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Sacramento County as they are nationally: 12.3%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Sacramento area overall (11.0%). The single-parent share is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Sacramento County
Renters in Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5% | 37.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.1% | 40.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.6% | 39.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.0% | 37.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Sacramento County rent their homes (41.0%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 31.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the southeast.
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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 8.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Sacramento County: 5.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of California's 58 counties, only four have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1985 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Sacramento County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,160 | $1,199 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,207 | $1,254 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,428 | $1,488 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,960 | $2,018 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$800 | +$818 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sacramento County costs $1,960 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $800 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Sacramento County
Bachelor's degrees in Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2% | 30.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.5% | 30.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.2% | 33.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.1% | 37.4% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +7.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Sacramento County (34.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the Sacramento area as a whole (37.4%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.6% | 87.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.3% | 89.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.0% | 89.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Sacramento County have finished high school as nationally: 88.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Sacramento area overall (89.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country.
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 Sacramento County
| Period | Sacramento County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 9.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 12.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Sacramento County than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.9 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Sacramento County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento County | 2.89 | 38.4 | 12.3% | 41.0% | 5.6% | 1982 | $1,960 | 34.1% | 88.0% | 6.7% |
| Yolo County | 2.81 | 34.7 | 9.8% | 45.7% | 8.1% | 1985 | $1,943 | 46.8% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Sonoma County | 2.57 | 44.1 | 10.7% | 37.4% | 7.7% | 1980 | $2,280 | 37.7% | 88.2% | 5.7% |
| Mineral County | 2.50 | 43.1 | 17.4% | 27.5% | 20.7% | 1969 | $894 | 13.6% | 92.6% | 8.5% |
| Grand County | 2.14 | 40.0 | 11.1% | 29.7% | 15.6% | 1986 | $1,246 | 37.6% | 94.6% | 1.6% |
| Montrose County | 2.44 | 46.0 | 10.0% | 24.6% | 8.5% | 1989 | $1,353 | 28.1% | 90.6% | 4.0% |
| Gunnison County | 1.89 | 39.7 | 5.6% | 33.2% | 21.9% | 1986 | $1,435 | 62.5% | 97.4% | 5.7% |
| Chaffee County | 1.98 | 47.0 | 5.3% | 25.9% | 13.2% | 1988 | $1,890 | 47.8% | 94.8% | 5.2% |
| Fremont County | 2.37 | 46.7 | 9.6% | 24.4% | 12.5% | 1979 | $1,133 | 25.7% | 92.1% | 4.5% |
| Kiowa County | 2.29 | 48.4 | 5.5% | 31.3% | 21.3% | 1963 | $830 | 19.4% | 92.4% | 0.2% |
| Greeley County | 2.38 | 37.0 | 16.9% | 25.0% | 17.5% | 1965 | $865 | 30.6% | 89.3% | 0.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Riverside County, CA · Tarrant County, TX · Queens County, NY · Bexar County, TX · Clark County, NV · Macomb County, MI · New Haven County, CT · Nassau County, NY · Multnomah County, OR · Montgomery County, PA
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 Sacramento County. 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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