Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Edinburg
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,000 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Edinburg
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Edinburg
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $911k less ($159,600 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1557/mo less ($920 vs $2,477)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $80,000/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$80,000
$134,139 vs $54,139/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
26% lower
199.1 vs 269.6 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Edinburg
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$911k less
$159,600 vs $1,070,500
Edinburg
Summer Heat
22.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $159,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $920 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $54,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 79.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 26.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Edinburg wins 8. 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 Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $159,600 median home), income ($134,139 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Edinburg, TX are about 1,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.