Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 18 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,576 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Inglewood
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
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)
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($689,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($1,666 vs $2,477)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $66,576/yr
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3614.4/100k) 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
$66,576
$134,139 vs $67,563/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
70% lower
199.1 vs 674.6 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Inglewood
Median Home Value
$381k less
$689,700 vs $1,070,500
Inglewood
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Inglewood, 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 | $689,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,666⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $67,563 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 11.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 18 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 18 and Inglewood wins 4. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $689,700 median home), income ($134,139 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Inglewood, CA are about 84 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.