Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Carrollton leads 19 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
87% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $88k less ($327,300 vs $415,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,295 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Median income trails Carrollton by $16,295/yr
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
$16,295
$95,380 vs $79,085/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
87% lower
137.1 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$88k less
$327,300 vs $415,300
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 19 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 19 and Tacoma wins 4. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($95,380 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,659 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.