Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Raleigh
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,508 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Raleigh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $724k less ($347,000 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1106/mo less ($1,371 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.5%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $55,508/yr
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$55,508
$134,139 vs $78,631/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
59% lower
199.1 vs 488.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$724k less
$347,000 vs $1,070,500
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 20.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $347,000 median home), income ($134,139 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.