Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence 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
Providence
Rhode Island
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,680 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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 15% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($293,000 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $601/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,815)
34% less violent crime than Carson
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $41,680/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$41,680
$103,045 vs $61,365/yr
Providence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
34% lower
276.7 vs 420.0 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$323k less
$293,000 vs $616,000
Providence
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Providence, RI are about 2,582 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.