Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Carson leads 14 of 22 categories
Antioch
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Homes cost $45k less ($570,900 vs $616,000)
Smaller class sizes — 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Property crime (3193.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Carson, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Antioch
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.9%)
Households earn $12,336 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Home Value
$45k less
$570,900 vs $616,000
Antioch
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Carson
Median Income
$12,336
$103,045 vs $90,709/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
31% lower
420.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 29.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 13.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carson leads 14 of 22 categories. Antioch wins 8 and Carson wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Antioch to Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $616,000 median home), income ($90,709 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Carson, CA are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.