Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 Carson leads 12 of 23 categories
Carson
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,372 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Chicago
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.9%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Chicago
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($304,500 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $501/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,815)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $31,372/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$31,372
$103,045 vs $71,673/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
22% lower
420.0 vs 539.8 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$312k less
$304,500 vs $616,000
Chicago
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 81.0°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $304,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,314 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $71,673 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 15.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 34.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carson leads 12 of 23 categories. Carson wins 12 and Chicago wins 11. 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 Carson to Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $304,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Chicago, IL are about 1,746 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.