Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
East Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,020 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
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 82°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
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)
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Homes cost $488k less ($582,400 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1108/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,477)
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $70,020/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Carlsbad
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carlsbad
Median Income
$70,020
$134,139 vs $64,119/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
64% lower
199.1 vs 558.4 per 100k
East Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$488k less
$582,400 vs $1,070,500
East Los Angeles
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | East Los Angeles, 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 | $582,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $64,119 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 117,222 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $582,400 median home), income ($134,139 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and East Los Angeles, CA are about 80 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.