Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Salinas
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($327,300 vs $573,600)
74% less violent crime than Salinas
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,795)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Salinas, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$11,130
$95,380 vs $84,250/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
74% lower
137.1 vs 524.5 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$246k less
$327,300 vs $573,600
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
23.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 70.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $84,250 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 162,783 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 31.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 18 and Salinas wins 5. 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 Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $573,600 median home), income ($95,380 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Salinas, CA are about 1,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.