Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Carrollton leads 12 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Midland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Midland
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,932 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($280,700 vs $327,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $155/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,555)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $4,932/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$4,932
$95,380 vs $90,448/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
62% lower
137.1 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$47k less
$280,700 vs $327,300
Midland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 12 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 12 and Midland wins 11. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $280,700 median home), income ($95,380 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Midland, TX are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.