Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Carlsbad
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($494,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $814/mo less ($1,663 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $45,240/yr
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,240 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Beaverton
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 82°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)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$576k less
$494,700 vs $1,070,500
Beaverton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.0% unemployment
Beaverton
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 82.3°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$45,240
$134,139 vs $88,899/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
45% lower
199.1 vs 364.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 114,745 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 7 and Carlsbad wins 16. 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 Beaverton to Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($88,899 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Carlsbad, CA are about 902 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.