Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $819k less ($251,300 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1180/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,477)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $62,403/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,403 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$819k less
$251,300 vs $1,070,500
Arlington
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$62,403
$134,139 vs $71,736/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
59% lower
199.1 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 114,745 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Carlsbad 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 Arlington to Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Carlsbad, CA are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.