Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 15 of 23 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Norman
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,196 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($224,900 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,815)
38% less violent crime than Carson
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $40,196/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$40,196
$103,045 vs $62,849/yr
Norman
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
38% lower
260.2 vs 420.0 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$391k less
$224,900 vs $616,000
Norman
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 127,701 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Norman wins 15. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $224,900 median home), income ($103,045 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Norman, OK are about 1,191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.