Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,673 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than San Tan Valley
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 104°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $767k less ($304,000 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($1,729 vs $2,477)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $45,673/yr
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$45,673
$134,139 vs $88,466/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
16% lower
199.1 vs 235.7 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$767k less
$304,000 vs $1,070,500
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
30.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 10 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($134,139 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 331 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.