Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Carson leads 13 of 22 categories
Carson
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Kent
Households earn $16,079 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kent
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($478,400 vs $616,000)
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carson by $16,079/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$16,079
$103,045 vs $86,966/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
14% lower
420.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Home Value
$138k less
$478,400 vs $616,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 78.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carson leads 13 of 22 categories. Carson wins 13 and Kent wins 9. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $478,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Kent, WA are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.