Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock 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
Population
114,745
Round Rock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,251 more per year on average
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 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Round Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $733k less ($337,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $891/mo less ($1,586 vs $2,477)
34% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $42,251/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$42,251
$134,139 vs $91,888/yr
Round Rock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Violent Crime
34% lower
130.7 vs 199.1 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$733k less
$337,500 vs $1,070,500
Round Rock
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.0% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
21.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $91,888 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 12 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 10 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $337,500 median home), income ($134,139 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Round Rock, TX are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.