Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 14 of 22 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
Orlando
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,753 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Orlando
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
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 Orlando
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($332,700 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 67°F
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $36,753/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$36,753
$103,045 vs $66,292/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
50% lower
420.0 vs 835.8 per 100k
Orlando
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$283k less
$332,700 vs $616,000
Orlando
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 14 of 22 categories. Carson wins 8 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $332,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Orlando, FL are about 2,208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.