Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Sacramento lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Sacramento sits.
Pro sports in Sacramento
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Sacramento hosts 1 major-league team across 1 league.
- NBA Sacramento Kings
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Sacramento fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Sacramento's strongest factors are Events, Climate and Star Power. Its heaviest drawbacks are Going-Out Cost, Economic Strain and Traffic.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Sacramento
The Sacramento read Free
A written read on Sacramento, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Sacramento scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Sacramento, CA: A Fun Score of 56, a Hub for Events, and One of the Nation's Most Comfortable Climates
Sacramento, CA earns a Fun Score of 56, placing it among the "Fun" category of cities. It stands out nationally as a hub for events and boasts one of the most comfortable climates in the country.
Why it scores high
Sacramento shines brightest in its vibrant Events scene, scoring an impressive 87. This high score means the city offers a rich calendar of festivals, fairs, and ticketed events, ranking tied for 16th nationally out of 134 cities. For residents and visitors alike, this translates to a consistent stream of entertainment and community gatherings throughout the year.
The city also benefits from a highly favorable Climate, with a score of 77, placing it tied for 31st nationally. This indicates a high number of comfortable days, making outdoor activities and general enjoyment of the city pleasant for much of the year. This agreeable weather complements the city's offerings, enhancing the experience of its various attractions.
Adding to its appeal, Sacramento demonstrates significant Star Power, scoring 74 and ranking tied for 35th nationally. This suggests the city attracts notable headliners for performances and has a strong connection to prominent residents, contributing to a dynamic and engaging cultural landscape.
Where it falls short
While Sacramento excels in several areas, it faces challenges in affordability and certain recreational aspects. The city's Going-Out Cost scores a low 18, ranking tied for 87th nationally. This indicates that dining out, recreation services, and transportation can be relatively expensive, potentially impacting residents' budgets for entertainment.
The Sports scene also presents a weaker point, with a score of 20, ranking 108th nationally. This suggests a less robust presence of professional and college sports events, as well as fewer sports centers and fitness facilities compared to other cities. For sports enthusiasts, this might mean fewer options for spectating or participating in organized sports.
Furthermore, Economic Strain is a concern, scoring 27 and ranking 98th nationally. This indicates challenges related to unemployment, housing costs, and poverty rates, which can affect the overall quality of life and disposable income for residents.
Who it's for
Sacramento is ideal for individuals who prioritize a lively events calendar and enjoy comfortable weather for year-round activities. It appeals to those who appreciate a city with a notable cultural presence and don't mind a higher cost for going out, or are willing to seek out more budget-friendly entertainment options.
Cities like it
- Orlando, FL: Similar in its strong events scene and appeal to a broad audience.
- San Diego, CA: Shares a comfortable climate and a generally appealing lifestyle.
- Long Beach, CA: Offers a comparable urban experience with a focus on local culture and community.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Sacramento’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Sacramento, CA: 54/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/sacramento-ca
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.