Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 16 of 22 categories
Carson
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Clovis
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
Households earn $4,491 more per year on average
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)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($420,700 vs $616,000)
42% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $333/mo less ($1,482 vs $1,815)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $4,491/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$4,491
$103,045 vs $98,554/yr
Clovis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Violent Crime
42% lower
244.6 vs 420.0 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$195k less
$420,700 vs $616,000
Clovis
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Clovis
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $98,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 14.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 120,607 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 66.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clovis leads 16 of 22 categories. Carson wins 6 and Clovis wins 16. 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 Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $420,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Clovis, CA are about 222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.