Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
High Point, NC
🏆 High Point 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 ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
High Point
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,463 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than High Point
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than High Point
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $420k less ($196,500 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $785/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,815)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $44,463/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$44,463
$103,045 vs $58,582/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
8% lower
420.0 vs 454.8 per 100k
High Point
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$420k less
$196,500 vs $616,000
High Point
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
High Point
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | High Point, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $196,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,030 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $58,582 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 114,120 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 58.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs High Point's 92.7 (US average = 100).
High Point is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and High Point 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 High Point or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $196,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $58,582), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and High Point, NC are about 2,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.