I used to live there, 5 years ago. And I had to laugh at your "safe" criteria. I did like sac. dont get me wrong, and I miss it at times. I loved the cultural diversity, the charming old homes, wonderful resturaunts, tree lined streets, the river, Expo, the way the city supports their Sacramento Kings!, the shopping is wonderful, and Sac is affordable. There really is so much to love about that city. But traffic was horrible and while it is unfair to generalize... most big citys have their fair share of crime. (I grew up in the Bay Area.) Sac is very interesting how it is organized. You have wonderful land park, curtis park, T street areas, and around the corner from those neighborhoods the businesses/homes have bars on their windows, with gun shops and pawn shops around... The crime and gangs are NO JOKE in sac. I taught down at 65th and lemon hill, and I saw a very different side of sacramento teaching where I taught so I may be biased. Sorry if I scare you but most of the neighborhoods are interspersed with good and bad areas and fast moving streets. Its not really set up in family friendly tracks or neighborhoods, but that is also a part of its charm. I lived in the Arden area, and then in the Med center area--near T street. The Ghetto bird (police helicopter) was just a norm most weekends in both neighborhoods. So my suggestion is, visit the place! I dont know what you can afford, those nicer areas are pricey but there are plenty of surrounding areas that are probably a bit "safer" than the actual big city of sacramento. Maybe a bit more family friendly, kids running in the culdesac type of places would be cities like Rocklin, Roseville, Elk grove, Folsom, El Dorado hills perhaps. But again, the traffic is a nightmare all around sac and the surrounding cities, so If your hubby is working in the city it might not be a bad idea to live there, walk or ride a bike to work! It really is a neat place but I dont think anyone can lead you in a specific direction, that is something you have to get a feel for yourself. Visit before you make that leap! Good luck and Enjoy!