Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Carson leads 15 of 21 categories
Carson
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $16,427 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 77°F
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Carson by $16,427/yr
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Carson
Median Income
$16,427
$103,045 vs $86,618/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
55% lower
420.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Carson
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 76.9°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Carson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carson leads 15 of 21 categories. Carson wins 15 and Richmond wins 6. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $624,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Richmond, CA are about 366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.