Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 16 of 21 categories
Carlsbad
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Vallejo
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Vallejo
Households earn $48,027 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.0%)
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 2% higher than Vallejo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $555k less ($515,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $583/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,477)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $48,027/yr
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$48,027
$134,139 vs $86,112/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
73% lower
199.1 vs 739.8 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$555k less
$515,500 vs $1,070,500
Vallejo
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 16 of 21 categories. Carlsbad wins 16 and Vallejo wins 5. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($134,139 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.