What are the schools like in Carlsbad, CA?

Carlsbad is served primarily by Carlsbad Unified. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 22.7:1.

What is the median household income in Carlsbad?

The median household income in Carlsbad, CA is $134,139 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.

Carlsbad, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carlsbad, CA affordable or expensive?

Carlsbad's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carlsbad is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,070,500 and the median rent is $2,477 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carlsbad, CA?

Carlsbad has a violent crime rate of 199.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1511.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Carlsbad, CA?

Carlsbad has an average high temperature of 65.0°F in January and 74.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 11.4 inches.

Is Carlsbad, CA a Good Place to Live?

Carlsbad is a mid-sized city of 114,745 in California, with a median household income of $134,139 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Carlsbad stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carlsbad is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carlsbad city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.5

Carlsbad's overall cost of living index is 111.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carlsbad costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Carlsbad, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,070,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,477	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$134,139	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Carlsbad's violent crime rate is 199.1 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

199.1 /100k

Property Crime

1511.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carlsbad is served primarily by Carlsbad Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carlsbad, CA	National Avg
School District	Carlsbad Unified	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	22.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	59.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carlsbad sees average highs of 65.0°F in January and 74.2°F in July, with 11.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Carlsbad, CA
Average High — January	65.0°F
Average High — July	74.2°F
Annual Precipitation	11.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Carlsbad, CA	National Avg
Population	114,745	—
Median Age	42.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.7%	18.9%
Asian	9.7%	6.3%
Under 18	22.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lake San Marcos, CA 4 mi Vista, CA 5 mi Encinitas, CA 6 mi San Marcos, CA 7 mi Oceanside, CA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Carlsbad

Carlsbad, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

92009 92008 92010 92011

Carlsbad vs Other Cities

Carlsbad, CA vs Lake San Marcos, CA Carlsbad, CA vs Vista, CA Carlsbad, CA vs Encinitas, CA Carlsbad, CA vs San Marcos, CA Carlsbad, CA vs Oceanside, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carlsbad, CA affordable or expensive?

Carlsbad's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Carlsbad roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,070,500 and median rent is $2,477/month.

What is the crime rate in Carlsbad, CA?

Carlsbad's violent crime rate is 199.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1511.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carlsbad?

Public schools in Carlsbad are operated by Carlsbad Unified. The district has 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.7:1. 59.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carlsbad, CA a good place to live?

Carlsbad, CA has a population of 114,745, a median household income of $134,139, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carlsbad?

Carlsbad averages 65.0°F in January and 74.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carlsbad?

Carlsbad, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 92009, 92008, 92010, 92011.

What is the population of Carlsbad?

The population of Carlsbad, California is 114,745 with a median age of 42.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carlsbad?

Key numbers for living in Carlsbad: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $1,070,500, median household income $134,139, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlsbad side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.