Moving from Vallejo, CA to Sacramento, CA

The 59 mi from Vallejo to Sacramento translate to about 1h 11m behind the wheel through 1 state(s). Mid-range moves tend to cross at least one meaningful boundary β€” MSA, climate zone, or tax jurisdiction. The sections below set the two cities side by side on housing, income, cost of living, climate, and jobs.

59 mi Β· 1h 11m by car Β· CA

COL -1.7% Home values -7.9% Ξ” +1.8Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
59 mi
Drive time
1h 11m
States
1
Fuel (25 mpg)
2 gal
Route throughCA
Primary highwaysI 80, I 80 BUS, US 50
Major cities en routeRoseville, Elk Grove, Fairfield, Antioch, Concord

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

VallejoSacramentoU.S. avg
All items (RPP)108.479106.67100.0
Rents154.993151.29100.0
Goods105.168105.168100.0
Services142.042130.23100.0

Overall cost of living in Sacramento and Vallejo is within Β±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) β€” plan your budget on category-level differences instead.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Vallejo β€” typical home
$520,970
Sacramento β€” typical home
$479,766
Vallejo β€” typical rent
$2,136/mo
Sacramento β€” typical rent
$1,995/mo

Typical home value in Sacramento is 1.7% below Vallejo ($479,766 vs $520,970 on Zillow ZHVI, 2026-03).

YoY change: Vallejo -5.4%, Sacramento -2.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsVallejoSacramento
Annual avg temperature62Β°F63Β°F
January avg low42Β°F41Β°F
July avg high85Β°F94Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”0.0"
Annual precipitation21.5"19.2"

Annual average temperatures in Vallejo (61.6Β°F) and Sacramento (63.4Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Sacramento gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals β€” winter gear can largely stay in storage.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: VALLEJO, CA US, SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, CA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023VallejoSacramento
Population124,637524,802
Median household income$89,496$83,753
Median age4035.7
Bachelor's degree or higher19.7%22.9%
Avg household size2.842.63

Income steps down 1.7%: $89,496 in Vallejo vs $83,753 in Sacramento.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Vallejo MSA β€” median wage
$53,520
Sacramento MSA β€” median wage
$55,290
Vallejo MSA β€” employment
137,640
Sacramento MSA β€” employment
1,048,170

Top occupations in Sacramento MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 127,580 $49,240
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 92,040 $35,560
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 79,450 $43,790
Sales and Related Occupations 78,260 $38,490
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 71,860 $81,700

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Sacramento average 94Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October β€” register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.

Frequently asked

How does household income compare in Vallejo vs Sacramento?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $83,753 in Sacramento vs $89,496 in Vallejo β€” a 6.4% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Sacramento more expensive than Vallejo?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Sacramento is 1.7% lower than Vallejo (106.67 vs 108.479, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How much do homes cost in Sacramento compared to Vallejo?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $479,766 in Sacramento vs $520,970 in Vallejo β€” a 7.9% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How far is Sacramento, CA from Vallejo, CA?

The driving distance is 59 mi and the route typically takes 1h 11m via I 80 and I 80 BUS. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does the job market in Sacramento compare to Vallejo?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $55,290 in the Sacramento MSA vs $53,520 in the Vallejo MSA, on total employment of 1,048,170 and 137,640 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

When is the best time to move from Vallejo to Sacramento?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 59 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Vallejo.

City profiles: Vallejo, CA Β· Sacramento, CA.

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