Relocating to Sacramento · From San Jose
Moving to Sacramento From San Jose and Silicon Valley
Santa Clara County leads Bay Area moves to the Sacramento region. See where South Bay movers buy, what housing costs here and the train to San Jose Diridon.
Written by Maggie B. Hopkins, Broker-Owner · Real Estate & Mortgage Broker at Surroundings. Facts checked October 2026.
Why Does San Jose Lead the Moves to Sacramento?
Santa Clara County sends the Sacramento region more people, on net, than any other Bay Area county. IRS migration data for the 2022-23 filing years shows 4,881 people moved from Santa Clara County into the four-county region of Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo. Another 2,026 went the other way, for a net gain of 2,855.
Online interest points the same direction. Redfin's Q2 2026 migration report, published September 24, 2026, named San Jose the top origin among house hunters looking to move into the Sacramento area. Redfin ranked Sacramento fifth in the nation for net inflow of users looking to relocate, at 5,227.
The clearest difference is the cost of a home. In August 2026 the C.A.R. median sold price for an existing single-family home in Santa Clara County was $1,900,000. Sacramento County's was $549,000, Placer County's $692,500 and El Dorado County's $690,000.
Where Do Silicon Valley Movers Settle?
Sacramento County draws the most, and Placer County is next. The IRS data shows 2,723 people moved from Santa Clara County to Sacramento County in 2022-23 and 1,393 to Placer County. El Dorado County drew 492 and Yolo County 273.
The longer Census view adds detail. In the 2016-2020 county-to-county flows, Placer gained a net of about 887 people a year from Santa Clara County, and Yolo gained about 879.
New growth on the edges is part of the pull. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put West Roseville's 95747 ZIP at about 4,850 people a year arriving from another California county. El Dorado Hills 95762 drew 2,911, Rocklin 95765 drew 2,705 and Lincoln 95648 drew 2,359. Those counts include moves between our four counties, so they are not South Bay counts on their own.
Read the city guides for Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and El Dorado Hills, or Davis on the I-80 side.
How Do Silicon Valley Housing Costs Compare?
Housing is where the difference is biggest. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024, where 100 is the national average, put housing at 211.9 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro. The Sacramento metro was 130.2.
Across all spending, the gap is smaller. BEA's all-items figure for 2024 was 110.4 for the San Jose metro and 106.7 for Sacramento. The house is the line that changes most, which is why the equity from a South Bay sale can do so much here. The cost of living guide puts these numbers side by side.
Can You Still Get to San Jose by Train?
Yes, without a transfer. Amtrak's Capitol Corridor runs between Auburn and San Jose. Its South Bay stops are Santa Clara Great America, Santa Clara University and San Jose Diridon, per Capitol Corridor's station list.
The weekday schedule effective December 8, 2025 shows 15 westbound trains leaving Sacramento. Check the schedule for the stops and days you would travel before you count on a given train.
By car, Interstate 80 runs west to Fairfield, where Interstate 680 curves through the eastern Bay Area cities to San Jose. In Census survey estimates for 2022 to 2024, about 18% of working Bay Area newcomers to our region still worked in a Bay Area county during the survey week. Our Bay Area commute guide covers which towns sit closest to the train and the freeway.
What Should You Know About New Homes Here?
Many South Bay buyers tour new construction, and two things are worth knowing before you walk into a sales office.
First, several builders in the region ask that your agent register you, or come along, on your first visit. Ask Rachel before you go, so you keep your own representation for that community.
Second, many newer neighborhoods carry special taxes on top of the base property tax. The City of Roseville, for example, lists the Community Facilities Districts, also called Mello-Roos districts, that apply to parts of the city. Builder incentives are also often tied to the builder's own lender. Maggie can lay that offer next to a quote she shops for you, so you compare the full cost.
How Does Our Team Plan a Move From the South Bay?
Maggie B. Hopkins, a Mortgage and Real Estate Broker, gets your pre-approval ready before you travel and plans the sale of your Santa Clara County home alongside the purchase. Rachel Dee Minyard, our REALTOR® and Creative Director, leads the home search. She knows the neighborhoods, tours homes for you on live video and plans your visit around the homes that made your list. Either of them can list the home you are leaving. Call or text Maggie at (916) 549-3131 to start the search or the loan.
Book a relocation consultation, get the free Moving to Sacramento guide, read about relocating to Placer County, or estimate a payment on the mortgage calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose the top source of people moving to Sacramento?
Among Bay Area counties, yes, on net. IRS data for 2022-23 shows a net gain of 2,855 people from Santa Clara County into the four-county Sacramento region. Redfin's Q2 2026 report also named San Jose the top origin of Sacramento-area house hunters.
How do San Jose and Sacramento home prices compare?
In August 2026 the C.A.R. median sold price for an existing single-family home was $1,900,000 in Santa Clara County and $549,000 in Sacramento County. Placer County was $692,500.
Is there a train from Sacramento to San Jose?
Yes. Amtrak's Capitol Corridor runs between Auburn and San Jose, with South Bay stops at Santa Clara Great America, Santa Clara University and San Jose Diridon. Check the current schedule for the trains that fit your day.
Where do people from Santa Clara County move around Sacramento?
IRS data for 2022-23 shows 2,723 moved to Sacramento County, 1,393 to Placer County, 492 to El Dorado County and 273 to Yolo County.
Do I need my agent with me when I visit a new-home community?
Often, yes. Several builders in the region ask that your agent register you or come along on your first visit. Ask before you go so you keep your own representation.
Who handles what on your team?
Maggie B. Hopkins handles the loan, and Rachel Dee Minyard leads the home search, the neighborhoods and the video tours. Either one can list and sell the home you are leaving. Call or text Maggie at (916) 549-3131 about the search, the neighborhoods or the loan.
More relocation guides
Moving from the Bay Area
See Bay Area and Sacramento prices side by side. Then plan the equity, the routes back and the sale there with the purchase here.
Read the guide →Moving from San Francisco
San Francisco's August 2026 median was more than three times Sacramento County's. See how many make the move, the train and BART route back, and how Maggie and Rachel plan it with you.
Read the guide →Moving from the East Bay
Alameda County sends more people to Sacramento County than any other Bay Area county. See where East Bay movers settle, prices and three routes back.
Read the guide →Moving from Los Angeles and Southern California
Los Angeles County sends Sacramento County more people than it takes back in IRS data. See what the migration data really shows, prices county by county and the trip back south.
Read the guide →Moving from Nevada
Nevada is the top out-of-state source of newcomers to the Sacramento region. See what the data shows, the California rules that surprise movers and the route over the Sierra.
Read the guide →Cost of living vs the Bay Area
Compare Sacramento and the Bay Area with dated federal price indexes, August 2026 home prices, electric bills and California's property tax rules.
Read the guide →Best places for a Bay Area commute
Keeping a Bay Area job? See which towns sit on the Capitol Corridor and I-80, the Delta route, and what the data shows about how often newcomers still commute.
Read the guide →Buying a home before you move
See how video tours, the loan, the offer and closing work from out of town. Maggie lines up the loan. Rachel shows you the homes and neighborhoods.
Read the guide →Property tax and Prop 19
Learn how a California base-year transfer works and who the law makes eligible. The deadlines decide whether it works for you.
Read the guide →Downsizing and single-level living
Sell a long-held home and move to one level. This guide covers single-story options, 55+ communities and timing.
Read the guide →Culture, food and wine
Sacramento pairs Farm-to-Fork dining with Broadway and repertory theatre. Museums, five wine regions and golf sit close by.
Read the guide →Healthcare and getting around
Meet the region's four health systems. Then see how the airport, the trains and the river trails connect it all.
Read the guide →
Sources
- IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022-2023 (address changes on tax returns), 2022-2023 filing years.
- Redfin, Q2 2026 migration report, published September 24, 2026.
- California Association of REALTORS®, August 2026 home sales and price report (released September 16, 2026), August 2026 data.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County-to-County Migration Flows: 2016-2020 ACS, 2016-2020 survey.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B07003, by ZIP code, 2020-2024 survey.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024 data.
- FRED (BEA data), Regional Price Parities for Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade: all items and housing, 2024 data.
- FRED (BEA data), Regional Price Parities for San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: all items and housing, 2024 data.
- Capitol Corridor, stations, checked October 2026.
- Capitol Corridor, train schedules (effective December 8, 2025), checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Capitol Corridor (route, length and stations), checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Interstate 680 (California), checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample, 2022, 2023 and 2024 one-year files, with Surroundings calculations by area, 2022-2024 survey.
- City of Roseville, special taxes and assessments (Community Facilities Districts), checked October 2026.
Prices are medians for context, not a valuation of any home. Migration counts come from IRS and Census data for the periods named and describe past moves, not a forecast. Train schedules and road projects change; check the operator before you travel.
This page describes our general process and is not legal, tax, or lending advice.
Maggie B. Hopkins is a Mortgage and Real Estate Broker (CA DRE Broker #01750680, NMLS #349517). Rachel Dee Minyard is a REALTOR® (CA DRE #02213398).
Loans are arranged by Maggie B. Hopkins, NMLS #349517, at Surroundings, NMLS #2528307. All loans are subject to credit approval and underwriting, and this page is not a commitment to lend.
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