Review of Sacramen,


You don't want to live here
Star Rating - 5/15/2021
High, high crime rate and car theft capitol of the country. Everyone knows someone who’s had their car stolen or have had their own car stolen. Sacramento’s violent crime and property crime is way above the US average.

Lots of shootings and murders and more murder of cops than anywhere I've ever lived. Lots and lots of theft. Twice during the first months after moving here, in the middle of the day, while grocery shopping in very good neighborhoods, I witness store employees chasing young men with unpaid groceries, out of the store! You do not want to go out at night. Keep your doors and windows locked at all times. Leave nothing of value outside at anytime. Do not have packages delivered to your door!

Long hot miserable summers from May through mid-October or later. Weeks of high 90s and even 100s without end. Half the year above 90 degrees often triple digits for weeks on end. 111 temps for days. Rolling blackouts – no electricity in record heat! No rain in the summer and often very little rain all year. So many years of drought that fire season is year round. With the fires, the air pollution is almost too thick to breath. Stay inside.

“The City of Sacramento was named the fifth most ozone-polluted city in the country. The city was also ranked No. 15 on the list of most polluted cities by short-term pollution, according to the State of the Air 2019 that comes from the American Lung Association…. Short-term pollution is typically when the air is smoky, like after a wildfire.”

Lots of car vandalism and defacing; passing cars toss paper cups with liquids, ice, or worse, hard objects, etc. at cars. Very high car theft and car vandalism rates. Worst drivers in the country. Usually #1 worst drivers in country and always in the top 3 worst drivers in the country. Top 3 in DUIs – often #1 in DUIs. Very high car insurance rates.

Unfriendly, rude people. Cultural Wasteland. Outrageously high cost of housing for dumps. Crime rate 35% higher than average. Extremely high cost of living for everything. Bottom line, don't live here, worst place ever. People are leaving CA in droves. You don't want to live here. It's a nightmare - not a dream.

BJ | Carmichael, CA
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2 Replies


Thirty years ago I sold my house in Carmichael and moved to the incorporated city of Sacramento. There are some pros about Sacramento unmentioned by other contributors. Such as lots of trees in most area neighborhoods that provide a nice shade canopy from the hot summers, which tend to be a dry heat which is not as oppressive as humid climates. If you live near a river, there is a cool breeze most evenings that comes off the delta so most mornings are pleasant until almost noon. It is also situated within a few hours drive of the SF Bay area, Monterey, a couple of hours to wine country or Lake Tahoe for winter sports enthusiasts and a day trip to Yosemite. Housing costs have risen largely from influx of Bay area residents from Silicon Valley. There is an abundance of farmer's markets here, and lots of Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and Grocery Outlets besides Costco, Smart & Final, Whole Foods, Winco, and Walmart,/Sam's Club, not to mention natural food co-ops. Adequately addressing the needs of the homeless is becoming a more urgent challenge than ever, not just in Sacramento, but in larger cities throughout the state, calling for increased support of the community for established food banks, shelters, missions and outreach programs. So far allotted funds for housing the homeless has not been allocated in a visible way to alleviate the growing problem. Sacramento is a melting pot of diverse cultures, one benefit of which is many great restaurants, food trucks and ethnic markets which have suffered during the recent corona virus crisis. There are a few rude people, but I would say they tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Freeways are congested during rush hours, and crowded parking lots are not immune to the occasional bully, but that happens in growing cities. Sacramento has a history of rich cultural venues that continue to grow in spite of the current political, economic and educational challenges we all face.
Beverley | Sacramento, CA | Report Abuse

Sacramento not LA, is a vivid example of what's wrong with California. Sacramento is a very insecure city full of people who are jealous other places that are actually major cities. I relocated here 18 years ago and thought it seemed Ok because of all the trees. But it has changed a lot. The rent has gone up to rival worthy places like San Diego, Berkeley or San Francisco but the quality of life has not improved. This capital city started out as an agricultural Mecca and is taking a very long time to outgrow that mindset. Now, there is construction everywhere as developers rush to erect tall condominium buildings, some supposedly aimed at low income but that is never true. Sacramento is not a destination city even with old Sacramento, which is basically a large gift shop. There are few choices for outside recreation as food deserts abound. Outside of more affluent neighborhoods, Metro Sacramento, California's capital city, is essentially a sprawling ghetto. A real shame for a city with so much open space not to take advantage of that and become the major destination city it claims to be just because it sits along highway 80 between Reno and the Bay Area.
Ron | San Pablo, CA | Report Abuse
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