Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Sacramento vs San Diego: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Sacramento, CA and San Diego, CA for May 2026: Sacramento at a $507K median versus $970K in San Diego, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $507K ▼ -1.0% | $970K ▼ -2.4% |
| Days on market | 14 ▼ -22.2% | 21 • 0.0% |
| Homes for sale | 827 ▼ -9.3% | 2,356 ▼ -10.2% |
| Sale-to-list | 101.1% ▲ +0.9% | 99.2% ▼ -0.1% |
| Months of supply | 2.5 ▲ +4.2% | 2.8 ▼ -9.7% |
| Homes sold | 331 ▼ -14.0% | 847 ▼ -1.2% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Sacramento is the more affordable of the two at a $506,635 median sale price, about 48% below San Diego ($970,000). Sacramento is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 14 days versus 21 in San Diego.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, San Diego offers a little more breathing room, with 2.8 months of supply against 2.5 in Sacramento, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Sacramento is the tighter market, with a 101.1% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, Sacramento is appreciating faster (-1.0% vs -2.4% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Sacramento's and San Diego's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $507K median in Sacramento and a $970K median in San Diego, against roughly $512K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Sacramento and San Diego market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Sacramento or San Diego more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Sacramento is the more affordable market at a $506,635 median sale price, about 48% below San Diego ($970,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Sacramento or San Diego?
- Sacramento moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 14 days, versus 21 days in San Diego (May 2026).
- Is Sacramento or San Diego better for buyers right now?
- San Diego gives buyers a little more room, with 2.8 months of supply versus 2.5 in Sacramento. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Sacramento and San Diego numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More Sacramento comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.