Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 13 of 21 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,689 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 104°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 14% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($365,300 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,815)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $36,689/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$36,689
$103,045 vs $66,356/yr
Carson
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$251k less
$365,300 vs $616,000
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
26.9°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $66,356 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 13 of 21 categories. Carson wins 8 and Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $365,300 median home), income ($103,045 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Las Vegas, NV are about 236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.