Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Carrollton leads 11 of 20 categories
Carrollton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
132,284
Tallahassee
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,899
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,481 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Rent averages $390/mo less ($1,165 vs $1,555)
Homes cost $71k less ($256,400 vs $327,300)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $42,481/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$42,481
$95,380 vs $52,899/yr
Carrollton
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tallahassee
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tallahassee
Median Home Value
$71k less
$256,400 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $256,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,165 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $52,899 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 198,259 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Tallahassee is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 11 of 20 categories. Carrollton wins 11 and Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $256,400 median home), income ($95,380 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Tallahassee, FL are about 763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.