As California’s capital and the cultural and economic center of the greater Sacramento region, Sacramento offers a remarkably diverse collection of neighborhoods, lifestyles and housing choices. From tree-lined historic districts and walkable urban neighborhoods to riverfront communities and newer residential areas, Sacramento gives residents the amenities of a major city while maintaining a distinctly Northern California lifestyle.
Sacramento’s greatest strength may be the variety it offers. Few communities in the region provide so many different ways to live within one city. East Sacramento is known for its mature trees, established homes and neighborhood atmosphere; Land Park and Curtis Park offer historic architecture and some of the city’s most beautiful residential streets; Midtown provides restaurants, nightlife and walkability; and Pocket-Greenhaven offers a quieter residential lifestyle along the Sacramento River.
The city is also defined by its two rivers. The Sacramento and American rivers meet near Downtown and provide an extensive recreational backdrop that is unusual for a major metropolitan area. Add an established urban forest, numerous parks, a thriving culinary scene, professional sports and the presence of California state government, and Sacramento delivers a combination of lifestyle and employment opportunities that is difficult to replicate elsewhere in Northern California.
Sacramento is the core of a metropolitan area of more than 2.5 million people and serves as the region’s principal center for government, healthcare, education, business and culture.
Sacramento is very much a city of neighborhoods, and the lifestyle can change considerably depending upon where you live.
East Sacramento has a classic residential character, with mature trees, older architecture and convenient access to Midtown and Downtown. Within East Sacramento, the Fabulous Forties are particularly well known for larger historic homes and beautiful tree-lined streets.
Land Park surrounds William Land Park and is characterized by traditional homes, broad streets and easy access to Downtown. Nearby Curtis Park has its own collection of Craftsman, Tudor, Spanish and other early-20th-century architecture.
Midtown provides a more urban experience. Residents can walk to restaurants, cafés, boutiques, galleries, nightlife and community events, while Downtown offers proximity to the Capitol, Golden 1 Center and major employers.
Farther south, Pocket-Greenhaven is known for its established residential streets, parks and proximity to the Sacramento River. Natomas, north of Downtown, provides a newer suburban environment and convenient access to Sacramento International Airport.
This variety allows buyers to decide whether they want historic architecture, an urban lifestyle, suburban convenience, access to the rivers or a combination of several.
Sacramento has developed one of Northern California’s most interesting dining scenes. Its location in the heart of one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions helped inspire the city’s “Farm-to-Fork Capital” identity, and locally sourced ingredients are prominent throughout the restaurant community.
Midtown and Downtown offer one of the largest concentrations of dining choices, including institutions such as The Kitchen, Mulvaney’s B&L, Waterboy, Canon in East Sacramento and numerous independent restaurants, coffee houses, breweries and cocktail bars.
The R Street Corridor has evolved into another popular gathering area, combining restaurants, breweries, shops and creative businesses in converted industrial buildings.
Entertainment includes Sacramento Kings basketball and major concerts at Golden 1 Center, performances at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, Broadway productions, live music venues and museums.
Shopping ranges from boutiques in Midtown and East Sacramento to larger retail centers throughout the city. Residents also have convenient access to Arden Fair and the extensive shopping destinations of neighboring Roseville.
Sacramento’s rivers and parks are central to the local lifestyle.
The American River Parkway is one of the region’s greatest recreational assets, extending for miles along the river and providing opportunities for cycling, running, walking, fishing, kayaking and wildlife viewing. Sacramento maintains more than 4,300 acres of parkland, 241 parks and approximately 115 miles of shared-use paths.
Residents can explore William Land Park, which is home to extensive green space and the Sacramento Zoo area; visit McKinley Park in East Sacramento; bike along the river; or enjoy neighborhood parks scattered throughout the city.
Historic and cultural attractions include the California State Capitol, Crocker Art Museum, Old Sacramento Waterfront, California State Railroad Museum and Sutter’s Fort.
Sports fans can attend Sacramento Kings games, Sacramento River Cats baseball in neighboring West Sacramento or Sacramento Republic FC soccer.
Sacramento is also ideally positioned for weekend travel. Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco and the Northern California coast are all accessible for day trips or weekend escapes.
Public-school assignments in Sacramento depend heavily upon neighborhood.
Much of the central city is served by Sacramento City Unified School District, including schools in East Sacramento, Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Other portions of Sacramento may be served by Natomas Unified, San Juan Unified, Twin Rivers Unified or Elk Grove Unified depending upon location.
The city also has a broad selection of charter, private and parochial schools.
Higher education is another major presence. California State University, Sacramento sits along the American River and serves as one of the region’s largest universities. The city is also home to the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, while UC Davis Medical Center is a major teaching and research hospital located in Sacramento.
Because district and attendance boundaries can change from one neighborhood—or even one street—to another, buyers should always verify a specific property’s assigned schools directly with the appropriate district.
For people employed in Downtown Sacramento, state government, UC Davis Health or the city’s major employment centers, living within Sacramento can significantly shorten the daily commute.
Interstate 5, Interstate 80, Highway 50 and Highway 99 connect Sacramento to virtually every part of the metropolitan region.
The city also offers Sacramento Regional Transit light rail, providing service between Downtown and communities including Folsom and portions of South Sacramento.
For Bay Area commuters, Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor is particularly useful, providing rail service from Sacramento toward Davis, Fairfield, Martinez, Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland and San Jose.
Driving to the Bay Area is possible via Interstate 80, but traffic makes the commute more practical for hybrid workers or those traveling west only periodically rather than every day.
Sacramento International Airport is also a major advantage, particularly for professionals who travel regularly.
Sacramento arguably offers the widest range of architectural styles and housing types in the region.
In East Sacramento, buyers will find Craftsman bungalows, Tudors, Spanish-style homes, cottages and substantial residences in the Fabulous Forties.
Land Park and Curtis Park offer beautifully established neighborhoods with homes dating largely from the early and mid-20th century.
Midtown and Downtown include condominiums, lofts, townhomes, apartments and newer urban construction.
Pocket-Greenhaven provides larger suburban homes, many on quiet streets near parks or waterways.
Natomas offers newer construction, planned neighborhoods, townhomes and more contemporary suburban housing.
Luxury buyers can find significant historic estates, architecturally distinctive homes and riverfront properties throughout several of Sacramento’s established neighborhoods.
The breadth of housing is one reason Sacramento appeals to such a wide range of buyers: it is possible to find everything from a small historic bungalow to a contemporary urban condominium or substantial estate without leaving the city.
Sacramento is one of California’s largest and most diverse cities. Its population is approaching 540,000 residents, while the greater metropolitan area exceeds 2.5 million.
The city is particularly diverse culturally and economically, reflecting its role as the state capital and a major destination for people from throughout California and around the world.
Government remains one of Sacramento’s defining industries because of the enormous presence of the State of California. Healthcare is another major employment sector, led by organizations such as UC Davis Health, Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health.
Residents also work extensively in education, law, finance, technology, construction, professional services, hospitality, transportation and small business.
Sacramento’s employment base distinguishes it from many suburban communities because a significant percentage of residents can work within the city itself rather than commuting elsewhere.
