Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,794 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°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 Oklahoma City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $419k less ($196,700 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $803/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,815)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $38,794/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$38,794
$103,045 vs $64,251/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
38% lower
420.0 vs 676.0 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$419k less
$196,700 vs $616,000
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Oklahoma City, 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 | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson wins 10 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $196,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Oklahoma City, OK are about 1,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.