Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 13 of 21 categories
Carlsbad
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,138 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Fresno
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 98°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)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $749k less ($321,800 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1250/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,477)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $71,138/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$71,138
$134,139 vs $63,001/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
73% lower
199.1 vs 735.5 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$749k less
$321,800 vs $1,070,500
Fresno
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 11.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 13 of 21 categories. Carlsbad wins 13 and Fresno 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $321,800 median home), income ($134,139 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Fresno, CA are about 290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.