Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 19 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910
Violent Crime Index
78
Population
103,648
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Daly City
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,229 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Daly City, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 74°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Carlsbad by $19,229/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Carlsbad
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Carlsbad
Median Income
$19,229
$134,139 vs $114,910/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
33% lower
199.1 vs 296.3 per 100k
Carlsbad
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 74.2°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $114,910 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 20.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 41.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 19 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 19 and Daly City wins 3. 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 Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Daly City, CA are about 429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.