Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving 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
Irving
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,359 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°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 Irving
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($259,500 vs $616,000)
34% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $26,359/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$26,359
$103,045 vs $76,686/yr
Irving
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
34% lower
275.4 vs 420.0 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$357k less
$259,500 vs $616,000
Irving
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Irving, 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 | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Irving 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $259,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Irving, TX are about 1,228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.