Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Carson leads 14 of 22 categories
Carson
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
San Francisco
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $733k less ($616,000 vs $1,348,700)
30% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $501/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,316)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $33,644/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,644 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Carson
Violent Crime
30% lower
420.0 vs 596.5 per 100k
Carson
Median Home Value
$733k less
$616,000 vs $1,348,700
Carson
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 76.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$33,644
$136,689 vs $103,045/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 39.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Carson is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carson leads 14 of 22 categories. Carson wins 14 and San Francisco wins 8. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.