Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Carlsbad leads 17 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Yonkers
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,931 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Yonkers
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 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)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Homes cost $614k less ($456,500 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $818/mo less ($1,659 vs $2,477)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $55,931/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Carlsbad
Median Income
$55,931
$134,139 vs $78,208/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
36% lower
199.1 vs 311.8 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Yonkers
Median Home Value
$614k less
$456,500 vs $1,070,500
Yonkers
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $456,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,659⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $78,208 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 39.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 17 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 17 and Yonkers wins 6. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $456,500 median home), income ($134,139 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Yonkers, NY are about 2,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.