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 110 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.
$105,996 median income · $622,723 median home value
$117,157 median income · $551,533 median home value
$90,260 median income · $489,600 median home value
$90,462 median income · $471,400 median home value
$92,115 median income · $427,333 median home value
$123,006 median income · $415,600 median home value
$116,759 median income · $487,200 median home value
$110,784 median income · $438,200 median home value
$80,872 median income · $269,700 median home value
$106,574 median income · $446,150 median home value
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is California’s statewide median.
California statewide median: $99,122
California statewide median: $774,582
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the best Sacramento, CA neighborhoods in 2026
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 110 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, East Sacramento.
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 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Sacramento.
The full plate
Table: Best Sacramento neighborhoods for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Sacramento | 19,736 | $622,723 | $105,996 |
| 2 | River Park | 3,920 | $551,533 | $117,157 |
| 3 | Greenhaven | 9,536 | $489,600 | $90,260 |
| 4 | 26,316 | $471,400 | $90,462 | |
| 5 | Village 9 | 4,647 | $427,333 | $92,115 |
| 6 | Village 7 | 4,177 | $415,600 | $123,006 |
| 7 | New Era Park | 1,521 | $487,200 | $116,759 |
| 8 | Natomas Park | 9,282 | $438,200 | $110,784 |
| 9 | Northgate | 4,519 | $269,700 | $80,872 |
| 10 | Village 2 | 5,760 | $446,150 | $106,574 |
| 11 | Village 12 | 2,896 | $394,833 | $96,020 |
| 12 | Curtis Park | 5,814 | $548,817 | $95,487 |
| 13 | Village 11 | 4,767 | $394,050 | $81,328 |
| 14 | Hollywood Park | 2,339 | $378,833 | $74,549 |
| 15 | Westlake | 2,360 | $425,700 | $116,366 |
| 16 | Willowcreek | 4,780 | $405,950 | $101,765 |
| 17 | Natomas Creek | 2,343 | $363,350 | $118,909 |
| 18 | Land Park | 8,374 | $537,573 | $104,444 |
| 19 | Elmhurst | 1,951 | $429,700 | $71,240 |
| 20 | Creekside | 5,024 | $379,775 | $112,105 |
| 21 | Freeport Manor | 1,398 | $300,900 | $71,324 |
| 22 | South Land Park | 13,326 | $459,850 | $77,488 |
| 23 | Colonial Village | 3,258 | $258,800 | $56,574 |
| 24 | Campus Commons | 2,530 | $403,550 | $61,793 |
| 25 | West Tahoe Park | 1,587 | $332,900 | $59,014 |
| 26 | Boulevard Park | 2,627 | $659,967 | $71,548 |
| 27 | Marshall School | 2,076 | $707,050 | $62,030 |
| 28 | Tahoe Park South | 2,115 | $310,350 | $65,892 |
| 29 | Sierra Oaks | 1,939 | $519,740 | $95,207 |
| 30 | Gateway West | 5,807 | $378,371 | $76,003 |
| 31 | Medical Center | 1,680 | $408,425 | $66,649 |
| 32 | Carelton Tract | 925 | $396,833 | $70,156 |
| 33 | Newton Booth | 3,070 | $562,620 | $61,512 |
| 34 | Scc | 377 | $475,600 | $86,985 |
| 35 | Upper Land Park | 4,759 | $523,067 | $63,010 |
| 36 | North Oak Park | 4,301 | $374,257 | $60,625 |
| 37 | Richmond Grove | 1,625 | $548,267 | $73,687 |
| 38 | Mansion Flats | 2,168 | $482,400 | $42,340 |
| 39 | Rp Sports Complex | 3,248 | $421,700 | $73,257 |
| 40 | Csus | 2,629 | $574,700 | $56,447 |
| 41 | Colonial Heights | 1,813 | $316,567 | $67,585 |
| 42 | Tahoe Park | 3,452 | $387,050 | $82,429 |
| 43 | Metro Center | 769 | $390,400 | $71,250 |
| 44 | Valley High-North Laguna | 46,825 | $303,817 | $64,537 |
| 45 | Tallac Village | 2,119 | $273,633 | $65,447 |
| 46 | South East | 5,004 | $166,400 | $43,022 |
| 47 | South Natomas | 26,515 | $300,020 | $66,417 |
| 48 | Alkali Flat | 1,110 | $503,000 | $29,640 |
| 49 | Parkway | 53,872 | $216,234 | $48,336 |
| 50 | Downtown | 6,445 | $464,550 | $37,010 |
| 51 | Johnson Business Park | 150 | $422,100 | $75,054 |
| 52 | Woodbine | 3,708 | $234,500 | $47,180 |
| 53 | Colonial Manor | 3,426 | $288,800 | $50,973 |
| 54 | College Glen | 6,580 | $287,250 | $69,089 |
| 55 | Little Pocket | 1,545 | $527,300 | $57,429 |
| 56 | Tahoe Park East | 888 | $381,200 | $76,333 |
| 57 | Poverty Ridge | 1,662 | $346,750 | $50,354 |
| 58 | Central Oak Park | 5,809 | $272,071 | $56,160 |
| 59 | Glenwood Meadows | 4,377 | $284,767 | $62,338 |
| 60 | Meadowview | 29,164 | $283,200 | $58,322 |
| 61 | Mangan Park | 840 | $279,550 | $60,893 |
| 62 | Old Sacramento | 1,858 | $412,900 | $47,932 |
| 63 | Fairgrounds | 536 | $389,600 | $12,347 |
| 64 | Golf Course Terrace | 2,995 | $289,850 | $64,192 |
| 65 | Robla | 7,544 | $273,514 | $67,362 |
| 66 | Fruitridge Manor | 4,588 | $242,300 | $50,099 |
| 67 | Brentwood | 1,544 | $300,400 | $59,803 |
| 68 | Gateway Center | 2,309 | $347,800 | $74,306 |
| 69 | Airport | 2,939 | $285,825 | $60,607 |
| 70 | Lawrence Park | 1,335 | $273,400 | $48,812 |
| 71 | American River Parkway | 1,658 | $299,900 | $64,426 |
| 72 | Wills Acres | 2,509 | $208,000 | $52,898 |
| 73 | Raley Industrial Park | 2,962 | $236,800 | $61,591 |
| 74 | West Del Paso Heights | 2,733 | $276,150 | $60,634 |
| 75 | Southside Park | 1,465 | $321,633 | $54,908 |
| 76 | North Pointe | 305 | $311,800 | $57,212 |
| 77 | Natomas Crossing | 3,525 | $383,860 | $55,539 |
| 78 | Strawberry Manor | 3,000 | $209,967 | $42,165 |
| 79 | Avondale | 4,048 | $249,533 | $39,260 |
| 80 | South Oak Park | 3,592 | $210,425 | $48,258 |
| 81 | Del Paso Park | 1,433 | $321,525 | $60,082 |
| 82 | Arden Fair | 570 | $251,500 | $53,750 |
| 83 | North City Farms | 3,995 | $265,671 | $51,205 |
| 84 | Village 5 | 1,258 | $473,100 | $46,308 |
| 85 | River Gardens | 1,352 | $281,600 | $55,692 |
| 86 | Oak Knoll | 874 | $170,500 | $31,092 |
| 87 | Glen Elder | 2,141 | $272,400 | $43,928 |
| 88 | Midtown | 6,443 | $288,880 | $36,227 |
| 89 | Gardenland | 3,165 | $235,175 | $52,675 |
| 90 | Del Paso Heights | 4,018 | $165,600 | $24,632 |
| 91 | Ben Ali | 1,723 | $220,000 | $36,874 |
| 92 | Norwood I-80 | 400 | $255,700 | $50,076 |
| 93 | Pell-Main Industrial Park | 1,514 | $278,100 | $48,911 |
| 94 | Village Green | 227 | $155,700 | $61,900 |
| 95 | Erikson Industrial Park | 597 | $305,500 | $56,050 |
| 96 | Hagginwood | 5,582 | $260,280 | $43,114 |
| 97 | Norwood Tech | 414 | $170,500 | $31,092 |
| 98 | Johnson Heights | 984 | $166,600 | $40,176 |
| 99 | Noralto | 2,604 | $215,425 | $43,025 |
| 100 | Old North Sacramento | 4,560 | $221,083 | $39,793 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 110 Sacramento neighborhoods.
Summary
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 East Sacramento, River Park, Greenhaven, Pocket, Village 9, Village 7, New Era Park, Natomas Park, Northgate, 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.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below. Not sold on California? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Neighborhoods In Sacramento FAQs
What is the best neighborhood in Sacramento?
East Sacramento is the best neighborhood in Sacramento for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. River Park and Greenhaven are next.
What are the best neighborhoods in Sacramento?
The best neighborhoods in Sacramento are East Sacramento, River Park, Greenhaven, Pocket, Village 9, Village 7, New Era Park, Natomas Park, Northgate, and Village 2. We ranked all 110 neighborhoods in the city.
How expensive is East Sacramento?
The median household income in East Sacramento is $105,996 and the median home costs $622,723. The best blocks in Sacramento rarely come at a discount.
How do you rank Sacramento neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on income, home values, population density, unemployment, and crime, using Census tract data. The neighborhood with the best combined score, East Sacramento, takes the top spot.
Which Sacramento neighborhood ranked last?
Granite Regional Park came in last of the 110 neighborhoods we scored. Every city has a bottom of the table; in Sacramento the numbers put it there.
