Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 13 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745
Overland Park
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,263 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Overland Park
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Homes cost $709k less ($361,800 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1099/mo less ($1,378 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $33,263/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$33,263
$134,139 vs $100,876/yr
Overland Park
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Violent Crime
7% lower
184.4 vs 199.1 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$709k less
$361,800 vs $1,070,500
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $100,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 38.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 13 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 10 and Overland Park wins 13. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $361,800 median home), income ($134,139 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Overland Park, KS are about 1,320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.