Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 22 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
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,691 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Riverside
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 95°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 4% higher than Riverside
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $585k less ($485,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,477)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $50,691/yr
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$50,691
$134,139 vs $83,448/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
66% lower
199.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Riverside
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$585k less
$485,500 vs $1,070,500
Riverside
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Riverside wins 8. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($134,139 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Riverside, CA are about 56 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.