Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($327,300 vs $616,000)
67% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,815)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $7,665/yr
Carson, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Households earn $7,665 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Carrollton
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Violent Crime
67% lower
137.1 vs 420.0 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$289k less
$327,300 vs $616,000
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$7,665
$103,045 vs $95,380/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 29.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 16 and Carson wins 7. 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 Carrollton to Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $616,000 median home), income ($95,380 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Carson, CA are about 1,231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.