Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Carlsbad
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Roseville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,265
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $21,874 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°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)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($596,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,940 vs $2,477)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.5%)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $21,874/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$21,874
$134,139 vs $112,265/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
9% lower
199.1 vs 219.2 per 100k
Roseville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Roseville
Median Home Value
$474k less
$596,700 vs $1,070,500
Roseville
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $596,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,940⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $112,265 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 19.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Roseville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Carlsbad wins 11 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $596,700 median home), income ($134,139 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Roseville, CA are about 450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.