Sacramento has great places to live whether you want to be in the lively downtown areas or you want more peaceful out-of-the-way daily living. This wonderful mix of nature and city is part of what makes us love living here, but it can be hard to make choices about where you want to live.

Downtown/Midtown

Downtown and Midtown Sacramento are economic and cultural hubs. Right along the river, these are some of the oldest parts of the city and you can find some great historical sites around here. This area has the most popular tourist attractions, including history and art museums, historical buildings, and more.

Culturally, this part of Sacramento is thriving. It includes the performing arts district, so this is where you can find venues for music and entertainment. Some of our most innovative restaurants and breweries are here, too.

If you need more city living than living room space, these areas are a great place to settle in.

Antelope

Antelope is a newer suburb of Sacramento and began as a planned community supported by the McClellan Air Force base. Since the base has closed, Antelope has thrived as a place for people who want to get out of the way of city living, live affordably in single-family homes, and be close to nature — yet still have easy access to the culture and amenities of Sacramento when needed.

Antelope is known for having lots of parks and being close to state and national parks like Tahoe National Park. Check out our parks guide for more information.

Technically unincorporated, yet still serviced by Sacramento, this community values privacy and quieter living with more trees than buildings and light traffic. The people here are also protective of their families and they have an excellent school system. Close to the airport, it’s a place to live that makes it easy to travel.

With a lot of newer developments, such as The Arbors, Antelope residents enjoy the benefits of modern housing that requires less maintenance as well as wide open spaces and big yards.

North Sacramento

North Sacramento starts to move away from the hubbub of downtown and includes Natomas and Del Paso Heights. While not in the center of the city, it’s well-developed with lots of residential areas with single-family housing. It’s incredibly close to the Sacramento airport, so it’s a great spot for frequent travelers.

North Sacramento has staked out for itself a great food scene. Look no further than the annual Sacramento Taco Festival, which takes place here, or Taste of North Sacramento. We’re a big part of the farm-to-fork movement, and many beloved eateries here follow the philosophies of local, seasonal, and fresh food.

Oak Park

Oak Park has a rich history with ups and downs. At one point a destination, the Great Depression made a difficult impact that left the area struggling. In the past fifteen or twenty years, the neighborhood has seen a lot of redevelopment and gentrification.

The people of Oak Park are passionate about their neighborhood and there are a lot of community organizations focused on ensuring development has positive impacts and celebrating culture. This is reflected in the activities you can find here. Seasonal Farmer’s Markets and GATHER, a unique monthly outdoor dining experience, are like nothing else in Sacramento. The Sacramento Black Book Fair and the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival demonstrate how Oak Park embraces the diversity of their community.

Land Park

Land Park was historically established as a neighborhood around William Land Regional Park, a large green space and recreation area developed with children and families in mind. True to these origins, Land Park has developed into a quaint residential area with a family-friendly emphasis.

This is where the Sacramento Zoo is located, and the neighborhood is home to a variety of quirky, family-oriented events such as the annual Banana Festival and the annual International Kids Festival.

The neighborhood is protected by the Land Park Neighborhood Association, which makes a mission of maintaining this neighborhood for residents.

East Sac

East Sacramento, known colloquially as “East Sac”, is a particularly upscale neighborhood located along the beautiful river. The “Fabulous Forties” is a collection of streets known for homes that are architectural treasures ranging is styles from Tudor to Bungalow.

On the wealthier side, many people here own their homes. This neighborhood has their own quaint cultural attractions — it’s known to have a lot of coffee shops and breweries and suburban-style events like Christmas lights tours and an annual neighborhood garden tour.

Elk Grove

A southern suburb of Sacramento, Elk Grove has technically claimed themselves as their own city, but the residents here still very much make themselves a part of Sacramento living and is considered part of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Elk Grove has 93 parks, community centers, and aquatic complexes. It’s a great place to go for quieter living with lots of outdoor recreation but still within reach of city life.