Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Carrollton leads 19 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,936 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($111,200 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,555)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $50,936/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$50,936
$95,380 vs $44,444/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
87% lower
137.1 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$216k less
$111,200 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 19 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 19 and Trenton 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $111,200 median home), income ($95,380 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.