Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 14 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Orange
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($327,300 vs $848,200)
39% less violent crime than Orange
Rent averages $593/mo less ($1,555 vs $2,148)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $13,955/yr
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,955 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
39% lower
137.1 vs 226.1 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$521k less
$327,300 vs $848,200
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$13,955
$109,335 vs $95,380/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 14 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 14 and Orange wins 9. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $848,200 median home), income ($95,380 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Orange, CA are about 1,208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.