California’s capital city of Sacramento has a lot going for it. It’s one of America’s most diverse cities, has the most tree coverage of American cities, and ranks among sunniest spots in the country. It’s no wonder that people are moving to Sacramento in droves.
But before you join the masses in copping on to how awesome Sacramento is, you oughta know what neighborhoods are the best of the best. The places with a solid home price to income ratios, blue ribbon schools, safe streets, and an abundance of jobs. There’s no geographic cheat-sheet here: neighborhoods representing every corner of Sacramento are on this list. Only the best of Sacramento’s 109 neighborhoods made the cut, but it depends on what your priorities are for determing which will make the best home for you.
If a mix of quality and affordability is on the top of your agenda, Natomas Park might be your best bet. If you’re looking for a spot with unending amenities, you’re going to want to take a closer look at what’s going on in Pocket. Want to be in the center of the action? New Era Park has you covered, being the closest to downtown, with its booming live entertainment scene and global cuisine.
Wherever you end up in Sacramento, you’ll be living in the farm-to-fork capital of the world, meaning that getting fresh food will never be a struggle, whether you’re stopping by one of Sacramento’s 40 regional farmer’s markets or getting some grub at a local restaurant. And when you’ve hit your healthy quota for the week, treat yourself to a burger from Squeeze Inn.
Find yourself a spot in the shade of one of Sacramento’s many trees, grab a bag of Blue Diamond almonds, and get ready to live like a Sacramento King, because we’re heading to the best neighborhoods in Sacramento.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So there you have it — the best neighborhoods to call home in Sacramento. Note that fishing enthusiasts might have a different take on things, but hey, you can always get yourself to the city’s top fishing spots from whatever neighborhood you end up in. If you end up in a quieter neighborhood and craving activity, don’t miss the annual Farm-to-Fork Festival – displays of local wineries, breweries, and distilleries alongside plenty of live music round out the week-long culinary adventure to perfection.
Sacramento’s a great place to call home, no matter what your priorities are, but of Sacramento’s 109 neighborhoods, there can only be one that’s the best. So what Sacramento neighborhood takes the gold for 2024? According to the latest census report and our own SnackAbility scale, River Park is the best place to call home in Sacramento.
Curious to see how the rest of Sacramento’s neighborhood’s stacked up? Take a look at the full list below.
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Sacramento
Population: 3,920
Median Home Value: $551,533 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $117,157 (Third best)
More on River Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 26,316
Median Home Value: $471,400 (18th best)
Median Income: $90,462 (16th best)
More on Pocket: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,647
Median Home Value: $427,333 (24th best)
Median Income: $92,115 (15th best)
More on Village 9: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,536
Median Home Value: $489,600 (13th best)
Median Income: $90,260 (17th best)
More on Greenhaven: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,896
Median Home Value: $394,833 (34th best)
Median Income: $96,020 (12th best)
More on Village 12: Data | Real Estate
Population: 19,736
Median Home Value: $622,723 (Third best)
Median Income: $105,996 (Ninth best)
More on East Sacramento: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,521
Median Home Value: $487,200 (14th best)
Median Income: $116,759 (Fourth best)
More on New Era Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,282
Median Home Value: $438,200 (22nd best)
Median Income: $110,784 (Seventh best)
More on Natomas Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,177
Median Home Value: $415,600 (28th best)
Median Income: $123,006 (best)
More on Village 7: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,760
Median Home Value: $446,150 (2best)
Median Income: $106,574 (Eighth best)
More on Village 2: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Sacramento, CA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Sacramento, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 109 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Sacramento.” We’re lookin’ at you, River Park.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Sacramento, California has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Sacramento.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Sacramento
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Sacramento where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Sacramento are River Park, Pocket, Village 9, Greenhaven, Village 12, East Sacramento, New Era Park, Natomas Park, Village 7, and Village 2.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Sacramento aren’t all good. Granite Regional Park takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Sacramento.
The worst neighborhoods in Sacramento are Granite Regional Park, Parker Homes, Packard Bell, Old North Sacramento, and Cannon Industrial Park.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more California reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Sacramento For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | River Park | 3,920 | $551,533 | $117,157 |
| 2 | 26,316 | $471,400 | $90,462 | |
| 3 | Village 9 | 4,647 | $427,333 | $92,115 |
| 4 | Greenhaven | 9,536 | $489,600 | $90,260 |
| 5 | Village 12 | 2,896 | $394,833 | $96,020 |
| 6 | East Sacramento | 19,736 | $622,723 | $105,996 |
| 7 | New Era Park | 1,521 | $487,200 | $116,759 |
| 8 | Natomas Park | 9,282 | $438,200 | $110,784 |
| 9 | Village 7 | 4,177 | $415,600 | $123,006 |
| 10 | Village 2 | 5,760 | $446,150 | $106,574 |
| 11 | Village 11 | 4,767 | $394,050 | $81,328 |
| 12 | Westlake | 2,360 | $425,700 | $116,366 |
| 13 | Northgate | 4,519 | $269,700 | $80,872 |
| 14 | Curtis Park | 5,814 | $548,817 | $95,487 |
| 15 | Freeport Manor | 1,398 | $300,900 | $71,324 |
| 16 | Willowcreek | 4,780 | $405,950 | $101,765 |
| 17 | Mansion Flats | 2,168 | $482,400 | $42,340 |
| 18 | South Land Park | 13,326 | $459,850 | $77,488 |
| 19 | Elmhurst | 1,951 | $429,700 | $71,240 |
| 20 | Sierra Oaks | 1,939 | $519,740 | $95,207 |
| 21 | Hollywood Park | 2,339 | $378,833 | $74,549 |
| 22 | Land Park | 8,374 | $537,573 | $104,444 |
| 23 | Creekside | 5,024 | $379,775 | $112,105 |
| 24 | Natomas Creek | 2,343 | $363,350 | $118,909 |
| 25 | Downtown | 6,445 | $464,550 | $37,010 |
| 26 | Colonial Village | 3,258 | $258,800 | $56,574 |
| 27 | Medical Center | 1,680 | $408,425 | $66,649 |
| 28 | Boulevard Park | 2,627 | $659,967 | $71,548 |
| 29 | Gateway West | 5,807 | $378,371 | $76,003 |
| 30 | Marshall School | 2,076 | $707,050 | $62,030 |
| 31 | Campus Commons | 2,530 | $403,550 | $61,793 |
| 32 | Tahoe Park South | 2,115 | $310,350 | $65,892 |
| 33 | Carelton Tract | 925 | $396,833 | $70,156 |
| 34 | Colonial Heights | 1,813 | $316,567 | $67,585 |
| 35 | Upper Land Park | 4,759 | $523,067 | $63,010 |
| 36 | West Tahoe Park | 1,587 | $332,900 | $59,014 |
| 37 | Newton Booth | 3,070 | $562,620 | $61,512 |
| 38 | Scc | 377 | $475,600 | $86,985 |
| 39 | Csus | 2,629 | $574,700 | $56,447 |
| 40 | South Natomas | 26,515 | $300,020 | $66,417 |
| 41 | Rp Sports Complex | 3,248 | $421,700 | $73,257 |
| 42 | Richmond Grove | 1,625 | $548,267 | $73,687 |
| 43 | Glenwood Meadows | 4,377 | $284,767 | $62,338 |
| 44 | North Oak Park | 4,301 | $374,257 | $60,625 |
| 45 | Metro Center | 769 | $390,400 | $71,250 |
| 46 | Fairgrounds | 536 | $389,600 | $12,347 |
| 47 | Tahoe Park | 3,452 | $387,050 | $82,429 |
| 48 | Valley High-North Laguna | 46,825 | $303,817 | $64,537 |
| 49 | Tallac Village | 2,119 | $273,633 | $65,447 |
| 50 | Johnson Business Park | 150 | $422,100 | $75,054 |
| 51 | Little Pocket | 1,545 | $527,300 | $57,429 |
| 52 | South East | 5,004 | $166,400 | $43,022 |
| 53 | College Glen | 6,580 | $287,250 | $69,089 |
| 54 | Old Sacramento | 1,858 | $412,900 | $47,932 |
| 55 | Brentwood | 1,544 | $300,400 | $59,803 |
| 56 | Meadowview | 29,164 | $283,200 | $58,322 |
| 57 | Colonial Manor | 3,426 | $288,800 | $50,973 |
| 58 | Tahoe Park East | 888 | $381,200 | $76,333 |
| 59 | Golf Course Terrace | 2,995 | $289,850 | $64,192 |
| 60 | Gateway Center | 2,309 | $347,800 | $74,306 |
| 61 | Fruitridge Manor | 4,588 | $242,300 | $50,099 |
| 62 | Parkway | 53,872 | $216,234 | $48,336 |
| 63 | Central Oak Park | 5,809 | $272,071 | $56,160 |
| 64 | Natomas Crossing | 3,525 | $383,860 | $55,539 |
| 65 | Robla | 7,544 | $273,514 | $67,362 |
| 66 | Glen Elder | 2,141 | $272,400 | $43,928 |
| 67 | Southside Park | 1,465 | $321,633 | $54,908 |
| 68 | Woodbine | 3,708 | $234,500 | $47,180 |
| 69 | Raley Industrial Park | 2,962 | $236,800 | $61,591 |
| 70 | West Del Paso Heights | 2,733 | $276,150 | $60,634 |
| 71 | Mangan Park | 840 | $279,550 | $60,893 |
| 72 | Avondale | 4,048 | $249,533 | $39,260 |
| 73 | Airport | 2,939 | $285,825 | $60,607 |
| 74 | Del Paso Park | 1,433 | $321,525 | $60,082 |
| 75 | Erikson Industrial Park | 597 | $305,500 | $56,050 |
| 76 | American River Parkway | 1,658 | $299,900 | $64,426 |
| 77 | North Pointe | 305 | $311,800 | $57,212 |
| 78 | Norwood I-80 | 400 | $255,700 | $50,076 |
| 79 | Lawrence Park | 1,335 | $273,400 | $48,812 |
| 80 | River Gardens | 1,352 | $281,600 | $55,692 |
| 81 | Poverty Ridge | 1,662 | $346,750 | $50,354 |
| 82 | Village 5 | 1,258 | $473,100 | $46,308 |
| 83 | Oak Knoll | 874 | $170,500 | $31,092 |
| 84 | North City Farms | 3,995 | $265,671 | $51,205 |
| 85 | Strawberry Manor | 3,000 | $209,967 | $42,165 |
| 86 | Richardson Village | 966 | $181,100 | $36,250 |
| 87 | Woodlake | 1,049 | $319,700 | $64,220 |
| 88 | Wills Acres | 2,509 | $208,000 | $52,898 |
| 89 | Midtown | 6,443 | $288,880 | $36,227 |
| 90 | Gardenland | 3,165 | $235,175 | $52,675 |
| 91 | Noralto | 2,604 | $215,425 | $43,025 |
| 92 | Del Paso Heights | 4,018 | $165,600 | $24,632 |
| 93 | Norwood Tech | 414 | $170,500 | $31,092 |
| 94 | South Oak Park | 3,592 | $210,425 | $48,258 |
| 95 | Arden Fair | 570 | $251,500 | $53,750 |
| 96 | Johnson Heights | 984 | $166,600 | $40,176 |
| 97 | East Del Paso Heights | 4,086 | $184,560 | $49,427 |
| 98 | Ben Ali | 1,723 | $220,000 | $36,874 |
| 99 | Pell-Main Industrial Park | 1,514 | $278,100 | $48,911 |
| 100 | Hagginwood | 5,582 | $260,280 | $43,114 |
| 101 | Village Green | 227 | $155,700 | $61,900 |
| 102 | South City Farms | 1,317 | $223,500 | $36,794 |
| 103 | Swanston Estates | 1,812 | $224,967 | $42,723 |
| 104 | South Hagginwood | 5,189 | $227,300 | $45,838 |
| 105 | Cannon Industrial Park | 1,173 | $240,200 | $40,065 |
| 106 | Old North Sacramento | 4,560 | $221,083 | $39,793 |
| 107 | Packard Bell | 157 | $47,900 | $38,229 |
| 108 | Parker Homes | 223 | $133,500 | $42,618 |
| 109 | Granite Regional Park | 180 | $58,000 | $30,224 |