Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Davie, FL
🏆 Carlsbad leads 12 of 19 categories
Carlsbad
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Davie
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,346
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
105,821
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,793 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 90°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 4.5%)
Davie, FL
Pros
Homes cost $665k less ($405,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($1,805 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $49,793/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$49,793
$134,139 vs $84,346/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.5 on the COL index
Davie
Median Home Value
$665k less
$405,100 vs $1,070,500
Davie
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Davie
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Davie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $405,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,805⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $84,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 90.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 68.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 105,821 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 65.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Davie's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 12 of 19 categories. Carlsbad wins 12 and Davie 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 Davie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $405,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $84,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Davie, FL are about 2,263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.