New ranking says Sacramento isn’t the best state capital. What cities beat it — and why?

Sacramento is right in the middle in terms of state capitals you may want to live in, according to WalletHub’s “2023 Best State Capitals for Safety and More.”

The online personal finance service rated capital cities on 49 key indicators, including affordability, economic value, education and health and quality of life.

“Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most livable state capital,” the ranking states.

The Golden State capital — ranked No. 23 overall out of the 50 state capitals — is a growing metropolitan hub with a diverse foodie scene, a bustling art district and a deep-rooted sense of community.

Why was it ranked nearly halfway down the list?

It’s expensive.

When it came to affordability, Sacramento ranked No. 46 on WalletHub’s list. It was also ranked one of the least affordable for housing at 47.

It did rank well in some categories: Economic well-being ranked No. 8

Sacramento is known for its state worker and health care industries offering competitive benefits and has a lower cost of living compared to other California cities. In the rankings, quality of life in Sacramento ranked No. 11

The city’s proximity to state and national parks — on top of its own urban forest — makes it an ideal location for those wanting to explore Northern California nature. It’s acclaimed for its farm-to-fork foodie scene.

When it came to education and health, Sacramento’s was No. 23.

Austin, Texas, ranked first place with top 10 scores in affordability, economic value, education and health, and quality of life.

Other cities that topped Sacramento were Boston and Atlanta. Although both cities also ranked poorly on affordability, they scored higher than Sacramento when it came to education and health, and quality of life.

Raleigh, North Carolina, is the most affordable capital city to live in, according to WalletHub. It also ranked second on the list.

This story was originally published February 8, 2023 at 1:04 PM.