Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 17 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,903 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Downey
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 81°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
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)
Downey, CA
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($679,000 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($1,814 vs $2,477)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $49,903/yr
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carlsbad
Median Income
$49,903
$134,139 vs $84,236/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
57% lower
199.1 vs 460.5 per 100k
Downey
Median Home Value
$392k less
$679,000 vs $1,070,500
Downey
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $679,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 17 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 17 and Downey wins 5. 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $679,000 median home), income ($134,139 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Downey, CA are about 74 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.