Washington - DC vs Sacramento - CA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Sacramento - CA is roughly 1% more expensive than Washington - DC in typical home value.

Washington vs Sacramento: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,132 a month in principal and interest in Washington and $3,148 in Sacramento, a gap of $16 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,407 in Washington and $2,269 in Sacramento, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.3 times rent in Washington and 1.4 times rent in Sacramento, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 19.7 years of rent in Washington and 21.0 in Sacramento; the lower ratio in Washington means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +0.7% in Washington and -2.3% in Sacramento; over just the last three months the change was +0.3% in Washington and +0.3% in Sacramento.

Homes sell for 99.7% of list price in Washington and 99.6% in Sacramento, after 19 and 22 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 30% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Sacramento.

The number of homes for sale is up 12% on a year ago in Washington and down 4% on a year ago in Sacramento.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.