Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 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
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $20,259 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°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 10% higher than Lakewood
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $122k less ($494,100 vs $616,000)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,815)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carson by $20,259/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$20,259
$103,045 vs $82,786/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
47% lower
420.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$122k less
$494,100 vs $616,000
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson wins 10 and Lakewood wins 13. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $494,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.