Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,124 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
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 12% higher than Denton
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($296,100 vs $616,000)
51% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $551/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $31,124/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$31,124
$103,045 vs $71,921/yr
Denton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
51% lower
204.2 vs 420.0 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$320k less
$296,100 vs $616,000
Denton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,264 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $71,921 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 38.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 142,262 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Denton wins 15. 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $296,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Denton, TX are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.