Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,597 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Midland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($280,700 vs $616,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
13% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,815)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $12,597/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$12,597
$103,045 vs $90,448/yr
Midland
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Violent Crime
13% lower
364.9 vs 420.0 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$335k less
$280,700 vs $616,000
Midland
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 60.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Carson wins 9 and Midland wins 14. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $280,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Midland, TX are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.