Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,414 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Raleigh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($347,000 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $444/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carson by $24,414/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$24,414
$103,045 vs $78,631/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
14% lower
420.0 vs 488.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$269k less
$347,000 vs $616,000
Raleigh
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories. Carson wins 9 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $347,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.