Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 17 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($327,300 vs $617,300)
55% less violent crime than Tracy
Rent averages $607/mo less ($1,555 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $16,337/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,337 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Violent Crime
55% lower
137.1 vs 301.4 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$290k less
$327,300 vs $617,300
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$16,337
$111,717 vs $95,380/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 17 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 17 and Tracy wins 6. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $617,300 median home), income ($95,380 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.