Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 Carlsbad leads 12 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
West Jordan
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than West Jordan
Households earn $35,137 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)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than West Jordan
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Homes cost $658k less ($412,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $988/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $35,137/yr
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$35,137
$134,139 vs $99,002/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
32% lower
199.1 vs 294.2 per 100k
West Jordan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$658k less
$412,100 vs $1,070,500
West Jordan
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $99,002 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 12 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 12 and West Jordan wins 11. 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $412,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and West Jordan, UT are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.