Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories
Carson
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Pearland
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($311,100 vs $616,000)
77% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$8,078
$111,123 vs $103,045/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
77% lower
95.9 vs 420.0 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$305k less
$311,100 vs $616,000
Pearland
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 64.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories. Carson wins 5 and Pearland wins 17. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $311,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Pearland, TX are about 1,377 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.