Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Carlsbad
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($597,100 vs $1,070,500)
14% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $307/mo less ($2,170 vs $2,477)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $38,569/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,569 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 91°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)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
14% lower
171.0 vs 199.1 per 100k
Boca Raton
Median Home Value
$473k less
$597,100 vs $1,070,500
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 74.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.8 on the COL index
Carlsbad
Median Income
$38,569
$134,139 vs $95,570/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 95.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 114,745 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 42.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 62.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 17.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Carlsbad wins 8. 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 Boca Raton to Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Carlsbad, CA are about 2,266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.