Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Carlsbad leads 12 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745
Richardson
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,777 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $691k less ($379,800 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,725 vs $2,477)
26% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $39,777/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$39,777
$134,139 vs $94,362/yr
Richardson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
26% lower
146.7 vs 199.1 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$691k less
$379,800 vs $1,070,500
Richardson
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 58 ✓ 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) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 12 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 12 and Richardson wins 11. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $379,800 median home), income ($134,139 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,190 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.