Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $32,379 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,555)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $32,379/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$32,379
$95,380 vs $63,001/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
81% lower
137.1 vs 735.5 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 15 and Fresno 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 Carrollton to Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $321,800 median home), income ($95,380 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Fresno, CA are about 1,320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.