Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Carlsbad leads 13 of 22 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
Jacksonville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,001 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Jacksonville
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 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Jacksonville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $828k less ($243,000 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1196/mo less ($1,281 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.8%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $70,001/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$70,001
$134,139 vs $64,138/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
68% lower
199.1 vs 623.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$828k less
$243,000 vs $1,070,500
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.0% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 13 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 13 and Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $243,000 median home), income ($134,139 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Jacksonville, FL are about 2,092 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.