Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($141,900 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,815)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $52,553/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.9%)
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,553 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$474k less
$141,900 vs $616,000
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$52,553
$103,045 vs $50,492/yr
Carson
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 29.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Carson wins 9. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $616,000 median home), income ($50,492 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Carson, CA are about 2,071 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Columbus, GA
Carson, CA vs Compton, CA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Macon-Bibb County, GA
Carson, CA vs San Marcos, CA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Savannah, GA
Carson, CA vs Tracy, CA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Athens-Clarke County, GA
Carson, CA vs Redding, CA