Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $78,405 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Yakima
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°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 10% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $827k less ($243,300 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1463/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,477)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $78,405/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$78,405
$134,139 vs $55,734/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
63% lower
199.1 vs 544.3 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$827k less
$243,300 vs $1,070,500
Yakima
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($134,139 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Yakima, WA are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.