Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 22 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Houston
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,605 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Houston
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°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 15% higher than Houston
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($235,000 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,815)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $42,605/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$42,605
$103,045 vs $60,440/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
63% lower
420.0 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$381k less
$235,000 vs $616,000
Houston
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 62.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 22 categories. Carson wins 10 and Houston wins 12. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $235,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.