Considering Sacramento vs New York — help me decide
OK so Military spouse here. It's a a major city city with about 525K people. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Has anyone dealt with this? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The suburbs are where most families end up. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The weather takes some getting used to.
84 upvotes
15 Replies
Levi Wright
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are excellent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
40 upvotes
Benjamin H.
I've been living here for 11 years and I'd say I'm still on the fence after all this time. The traffic is tough compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
Carson Gonzalez
facts
35 upvotes
Lily Morales
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it was the best decision I ever made. Compared to Denver it's average.
32 upvotes
Zachary G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a accountant, 43, moved here 11 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Pine Hills and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Nice parks and green spaces
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Can feel isolated
3. The healthcare situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Pine Hills: Great for couples. decent vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Diego, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
29 upvotes
Theodore T.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Chicago about 5 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Strong job market in several industries
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Chain restaurants dominate
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are affordable, gas is solid.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
27 upvotes
Katherine
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it exceeded my expectations.
23 upvotes
dallaspapa2026
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much pricey but now it's decent.
22 upvotes
Kai Jackson
Saving this thread
22 upvotes
Joseph Hughes
hard disagree but ok
16 upvotes
Silas M.
not my experience at all
15 upvotes
Austin Myers
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Pittsburgh it's better than expected.
14 upvotes
Carson G.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 29, moved here 2 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Oak Park and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good internet infrastructure
2. Close to major attractions
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Winters are long and cold
3. The job market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for young professionals. challenging vibes, walkable.
- West: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Miami, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $60K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
13 upvotes
Lily
hmm interesting perspective
12 upvotes
Xavier Nguyen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from San Diego and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Highland. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in government. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
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