Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Palmdale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,966 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carrollton by $16,966/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$16,966
$95,380 vs $78,414/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
75% lower
137.1 vs 551.0 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$70k less
$327,300 vs $397,500
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Palmdale'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 Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $397,500 median home), income ($95,380 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Palmdale, CA are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.