Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Carson leads 14 of 21 categories
Carson
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $33,317 more per year on average
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.9%)
Commutes run 3 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)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($489,400 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,815)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $33,317/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$33,317
$103,045 vs $69,728/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
67% lower
420.0 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Compton
Median Home Value
$127k less
$489,400 vs $616,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $69,728 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 94,822 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 57.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carson leads 14 of 21 categories. Carson wins 14 and Compton wins 7. 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 Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $489,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Compton, CA are about 4 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.