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Navigate apartment hunting and city life like a local with our curated articles about Sacramento, California.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
Apartment List has released Sacramento’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Sacramento renters expressed general dissatisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories average or below average scores.
Key findings in Sacramento include the following:
• Sacramento renters gave their city a C overall. • The highest-rated category for Sacramento was weather (B-). • The areas of concern to Sacramento renters are safety and crime rate, jobs and career opportunities, and state and local taxes, which all received a D. • Millennial renters are unsatisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of F. • Sacramento earned similar scores to other nearby cities like Los Angeles (C+) and San Jose (C) but earned lower marks than San Diego (A-) and San Francisco (B+). • Sacramento earned similar scores to other cities nationwide, including Las Vegas, NV (C), Oklahoma City, OK (C+), and Albuquerque, NM (C).
The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
• "It’s very diverse and welcoming, and the weather is pretty good most of the time." – Anon. • "There’s always something to do, but parking downtown can be a pain." - Angelina • "I love that it’s an hour away from both the beach and the mountains. It has big city convenience and little city atmosphere." – Mary H. • "It’s not a very nice area, but it has pretty much everything you need and it’s not very expensive to live here." – Megan S.
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Valley Hi/North Laguna features family-friendly affordability in southern Sacramento. Rental homes typically include more yard space and square footage than similarly priced options closer to downtown. The neighborhood provides excellent access to both Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center and shopping along Florin Road, creating practical convenience for households seeking value within Sacramento city limits.
Midtown Sacramento offers urban convenience with genuine political character, where historic buildings house state offices alongside trendy restaurants within walking distance of the Capitol. Rental options include renovated Victorian homes and newer mid-rises, though seasonal legislative sessions create temporary congestion and parking challenges in certain areas. This centrally located neighborhood appeals to government employees and professionals seeking walkable dining and cultural attractions despite higher rental rates reflecting the premium downtown-adjacent positioning
Historic charm permeates this tree-lined enclave surrounding McKinley Park's rose garden and pond. Renters covet Craftsman bungalows with sleeping porches but face strict historic preservation guidelines limiting exterior modifications. The Sunday Farmers' Market under the freeway provides farm-fresh produce, though setup begins at 5AM.
*Based on base prices that don’t include fees