Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Tracy, 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 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Tracy
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $22,422 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 93°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 Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
Homes cost $453k less ($617,300 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($2,162 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $22,422/yr
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$22,422
$134,139 vs $111,717/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
34% lower
199.1 vs 301.4 per 100k
Tracy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Home Value
$453k less
$617,300 vs $1,070,500
Tracy
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $2,162⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($134,139 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Tracy, CA are about 395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.