Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,813 more per year on average
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 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $912k less ($158,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1522/mo less ($955 vs $2,477)
25% less violent crime than Carlsbad
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $77,813/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$77,813
$134,139 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
25% lower
150.0 vs 199.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$912k less
$158,700 vs $1,070,500
McAllen
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
23.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | McAllen, 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 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 11 and McAllen wins 12. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $158,700 median home), income ($134,139 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and McAllen, TX are about 1,236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.