Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Durham
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $59,429 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Durham
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 87°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Durham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $754k less ($316,600 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1181/mo less ($1,296 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.3%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $59,429/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$59,429
$134,139 vs $74,710/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
68% lower
199.1 vs 619.2 per 100k
Durham
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$754k less
$316,600 vs $1,070,500
Durham
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,296 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $74,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 284,094 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 12.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Durham wins 9. 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 Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($134,139 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Durham, NC are about 2,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.