Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 14 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($466,300 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,815)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $38,566/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.9%)
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,566 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$150k less
$466,300 vs $616,000
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$38,566
$103,045 vs $64,479/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
19% lower
420.0 vs 518.1 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 29.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 14 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 14 and Carson wins 8. 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 Arden-Arcade to Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $616,000 median home), income ($64,479 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Carson, CA are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.