Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $609k less ($461,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $928/mo less ($1,549 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.4%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $47,583/yr
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,583 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Austin
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$609k less
$461,500 vs $1,070,500
Austin
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$47,583
$134,139 vs $86,556/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
57% lower
199.1 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 114,745 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($86,556 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Carlsbad, CA are about 1,163 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.