Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Salem
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,599 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Salem
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 84°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 9% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $721k less ($349,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1253/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,477)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $66,599/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$66,599
$134,139 vs $67,540/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
63% lower
199.1 vs 532.2 per 100k
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$721k less
$349,500 vs $1,070,500
Salem
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($134,139 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Salem, OR are about 871 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.