Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Carlsbad
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139
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, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $237k less ($833,300 vs $1,070,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $250/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,477)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$3,248
$137,387 vs $134,139/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$237k less
$833,300 vs $1,070,500
Arlington
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.0% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
22% lower
199.1 vs 254.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $134,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 24.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 95.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 114,745 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Carlsbad wins 10. 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 ($833,300 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Carlsbad, CA are about 2,262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.