Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,931 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $411k less ($204,800 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $801/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,815)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $39,931/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$39,931
$103,045 vs $63,114/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
41% lower
420.0 vs 707.4 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$411k less
$204,800 vs $616,000
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 60.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson wins 10 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $204,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 1,837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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