Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Peoria
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,380 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Peoria
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 105°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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $687k less ($383,600 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $839/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $47,380/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$47,380
$134,139 vs $86,759/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
22% lower
199.1 vs 254.7 per 100k
Peoria
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$687k less
$383,600 vs $1,070,500
Peoria
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.0% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
30.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 17.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 41.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 10 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $383,600 median home), income ($134,139 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.