Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 12 of 23 categories
Carson
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,722 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Redding
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 13% higher than Redding
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($343,000 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,815)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $35,722/yr
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$35,722
$103,045 vs $67,323/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
35% lower
420.0 vs 647.8 per 100k
Redding
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Home Value
$273k less
$343,000 vs $616,000
Redding
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 38.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 12 of 23 categories. Carson wins 11 and Redding wins 12. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $343,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Redding, CA are about 517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.