Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Carrollton leads 14 of 20 categories
Carrollton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
132,284
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($327,300 vs $417,600)
Households earn $20,004 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Median income trails Carrollton by $20,004/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$20,004
$95,380 vs $75,376/yr
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$90k less
$327,300 vs $417,600
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $75,376 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 14 of 20 categories. Carrollton wins 14 and Fort Lauderdale 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 Carrollton to Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $417,600 median home), income ($95,380 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.