Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories
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
Chico
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,207 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Chico
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 95°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
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $643k less ($427,600 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1117/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,477)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $68,207/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$68,207
$134,139 vs $65,932/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
72% lower
199.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$643k less
$427,600 vs $1,070,500
Chico
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 41.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Chico is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 16 and Chico wins 7. 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 Carlsbad to Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $427,600 median home), income ($134,139 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Chico, CA are about 523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.