Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 21 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($616,000 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $934/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,749)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 23.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $19,903/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Carson
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $19,903 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Home Value
$410k less
$616,000 vs $1,025,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Irvine
Median Income
$19,903
$122,948 vs $103,045/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
80% lower
84.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Irvine
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Irvine, 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 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 21 categories. Carson wins 7 and Irvine wins 14. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Irvine, CA are about 30 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.