Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Households earn $8,683 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°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 12% higher than Richardson
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($379,800 vs $616,000)
65% less violent crime than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $8,683/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$8,683
$103,045 vs $94,362/yr
Richardson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
65% lower
146.7 vs 420.0 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$236k less
$379,800 vs $616,000
Richardson
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Carson wins 7 and Richardson wins 16. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $379,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.